1. Language Accessibility Advisory Committee
Madera County
Registrar of Voters
2017

2. Purpose of the LAAC
Feedback
Collaboration
Outreach

3. Purpose of the LAAC Feedback –
A forum for limited-English proficiency communities to discuss issues they encounter in the voting process.
Recommend improvements to polling places, websites, voter materials and election procedures.

4. Purpose of the LAAC Collaboration –
Open lines of communication and cooperation with community groups.
Address issues and minimize misunderstandings.
Assist in recruitment of bilingual poll-workers.

5. Purpose of the LAAC Outreach –
To individuals and organizations that serve voters with limited-English proficiency.
An opportunity for the Elections Division to better understand the diverse array of challenges faced by voters.

6. Duties of the LAAC Recommendations:
reaching voters with limited-English proficiency;
improving access and participation in elections;
Improving the availability and accessibility of elections materials.

7. Duties of the LAAC Advise:
election officials on how to recognize barriers to participation for voters with limited-English proficiency;
elections officials on existing programs to reach voters;

8. Duties of the LAAC Assist:
Elections officials in disseminating information to limited-English proficiency communities;
Elections officials in developing more accessible voting materials;
in the recruitment of pollworkers or precinct officials who are bilingual.

9. Meetings of the LAAC
Meetings are held at least twice a year and more often as necessary.
Meetings are structured to provide a forum where community members can provide independent advice that contributes to the Registrar’s decision-making process.

10. Meetings of the LAAC
Meetings are open to the public and members of the public will have opportunity to make oral statements during meetings.
Meetings are accessible to voters with limited-English proficiency.

11. Legal Authority for a LAAC
Voting Rights Act of 1965.
§ (a)The Congress finds that, through the use of various practices and procedures, citizens of language minorities have been effectively excluded from participation in the electoral process. Among other factors, the denial of the right to vote of such minority group citizens is ordinarily directly related to the unequal educational opportunities afforded them resulting in high illiteracy and low voting participation. The Congress declares that, in order to enforce the guarantees of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the United States Constitution, it is necessary to eliminate such discrimination by prohibiting these practices, and by prescribing other remedial devices.

12. Legal Authority for a LAAC
California Elections Code §
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote. Therefore, appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to voting by citizens who lack sufficient skill in English to vote without assistance.

13. LAAC Membership
Members of a LAAC should have either a demonstrated knowledge of a particular covered language, language accessibility, or experience working with communities who speak a covered language.

14. LAAC Membership (800) 435-0509 (559) 675-7720
To become a member of the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee, complete the application form provided at the end of the meeting or you may contact the Elections Division to receive an application by mail.
(800)
(559)
The County Registrar’s Office has bilingual staff available during regular business hours.