Historic victory for the Russian-American community of New York
02.06.2009
On May 19, 2009 leaders of 46 Russian-American organizations under the umbrella of HIAS/LOREO-American Forum of WCRJ – Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI) for the Russian-American New Yorkers, representing more than 700,000 Russian-speaking New Yorkers were extremely pleased to learn that Bill S-552 re: "Russian Language Election Materials for Election Campaigns" passed on the State Senate floor with an overwhelming majority of 48 out of 62. Then on May 28, 2009 Bill passed the State Assembly floor with an overwhelming vote of 109 to 23.
One of the main goals of the Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI) has been to make it easier for Russian-American citizens of New York to be integrated into the civic and political mainstream of our country. Amid the many objectives of CVEI has been to help Russian-American New Yorkers to overcome the language barrier that keeps them from fully exercising their civil rights, especially their right to vote. Senator Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn), who introduced the bill in the Senate, promised last year: “As the Senator who represents New York State’s largest constituency of Russian-speaking immigrants, I believe strongly that Russian-speaking voters aren’t simply being left out of the voting process; they’re being shut out and, as a result, disenfranchised,” Sen. Kruger said. “I will continue to press for this legislation until all voters, including the Russian-speaking population, are assured equal access to voting materials and thereby equal representation under our democratic system,” he said. And he kept his word.
The Bill to require the New York City Board of Elections to translate all voting material into Russian, in addition to its current list of languages (English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean), was introduced by Assemblyman William Colton (D-Bensonhurst/Gravesend) and Alec Brook-Krasny (D-Bay Ridge/Coney Island) in co-sponsorship with Assemblywoman Helene E. Weinstein (D-Midwood/Sheepshead Bay), Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs (D-Flatbush/Midwood), Assemblyman and Kings County Democratic Chairman Vito J. Lopez (D-Bushwick), Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay), Assemblyman Alan Maisel (D-Canarsie/Mill Basin), and many others. It is an important initiative since a recent survey by U.S. Census Bureau showed that “Russian is New York’s # 3 foreign languages”
This Bill was first introduced in 2004 in response to numerous complaints from constituents and poll workers, stating that many elderly Russian-American registered voters had difficulties voting due to the language barrier. We hope the fact that the Bill had successfully passed the floor of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate will compel Governor David A. Paterson to sign Bill into law. W. Colton stated that this historic victory for the Russian-American community of New York came as a result of mutual partnership between elected officials and leadership of our community, supported and encouraged by numerous organizations such as: UJA-Federation of NY, JCRC, HIAS, NY Immigration Coalition, etc.
Historic victory for the Russian-American community of New York
On May 19, 2009 leaders of 46 Russian-American organizations under the umbrella of HIAS/LOREO-American Forum of WCRJ – Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI) for the Russian-American New Yorkers, representing more than 700,000 Russian-speaking New Yorkers were extremely pleased to learn that Bill S-552 re: "Russian Language Election Materials for Election Campaigns" passed on the State Senate floor with an overwhelming majority of 48 out of 62. Then on May 28, 2009 Bill passed the State Assembly floor with an overwhelming vote of 109 to 23.
One of the main goals of the Civic and Voter Education Initiative (CVEI) has been to make it easier for Russian-American citizens of New York to be integrated into the civic and political mainstream of our country. Amid the many objectives of CVEI has been to help Russian-American New Yorkers to overcome the language barrier that keeps them from fully exercising their civil rights, especially their right to vote. Senator Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn), who introduced the bill in the Senate, promised last year: “As the Senator who represents New York State’s largest constituency of Russian-speaking immigrants, I believe strongly that Russian-speaking voters aren’t simply being left out of the voting process; they’re being shut out and, as a result, disenfranchised,” Sen. Kruger said. “I will continue to press for this legislation until all voters, including the Russian-speaking population, are assured equal access to voting materials and thereby equal representation under our democratic system,” he said. And he kept his word.
The Bill to require the New York City Board of Elections to translate all voting material into Russian, in addition to its current list of languages (English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean), was introduced by Assemblyman William Colton (D-Bensonhurst/Gravesend) and Alec Brook-Krasny (D-Bay Ridge/Coney Island) in co-sponsorship with Assemblywoman Helene E. Weinstein (D-Midwood/Sheepshead Bay), Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs (D-Flatbush/Midwood), Assemblyman and Kings County Democratic Chairman Vito J. Lopez (D-Bushwick), Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz (D-Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay), Assemblyman Alan Maisel (D-Canarsie/Mill Basin), and many others. It is an important initiative since a recent survey by U.S. Census Bureau showed that “Russian is New York’s # 3 foreign languages”
This Bill was first introduced in 2004 in response to numerous complaints from constituents and poll workers, stating that many elderly Russian-American registered voters had difficulties voting due to the language barrier. We hope the fact that the Bill had successfully passed the floor of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate will compel Governor David A. Paterson to sign Bill into law. W. Colton stated that this historic victory for the Russian-American community of New York came as a result of mutual partnership between elected officials and leadership of our community, supported and encouraged by numerous organizations such as: UJA-Federation of NY, JCRC, HIAS, NY Immigration Coalition, etc.
