“Despite being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice, the City of Pawtucket failed its voters during the recent primary election,” said John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island.
This is from today's Boston Globe digest: "A nonpartisan watchdog organization alleges the City of Pawtucket violated the rights of Spanish-speaking voters when officials failed to provide bilingual signs at a half-dozen polling places during last week’s state primary election. "
Barry, I worked the polls years ago. If I recall, it was the Secretary of State/Board of Elections who provided them. I would think it's up to them, not the city, to provide signage. The poll workers put up the signs (at least most of them). The State is supposed to be the expert as to rules, other languages, etc.
Barry, It sounds as though the Spanish-language signs were not at some (or all?) of the polls in. It sounds as though Common Cause doesn't know why--they want it investigated so it doesn't happen again (in November). You're probably right that either the signs weren't provided or the poll workers didn't put them up. As I know a couple of poll workers, like you, I'd be surprised if the problem is the workers not putting them up. The training seems pretty thorough.
being a poll worker in North Providence I'm sensitive to the issue. Though my town is not required to have signs or speakers in Spanish, the training proved by the Board of Elections made it clear to all they were required in Pawtucket Central Falls and Woonsocket. I'm not clear from this post just what Pawtucket did wrong. The Bd of Elections provided our signage, is Common Cause alleging that they did not provide the Spanish signage? Or that they provided the signage but poll workers didn't put them up. (hard for me to believe) Or something else?
This is from today's Boston Globe digest: "A nonpartisan watchdog organization alleges the City of Pawtucket violated the rights of Spanish-speaking voters when officials failed to provide bilingual signs at a half-dozen polling places during last week’s state primary election. "
I don't subscribe, so that's all I have.
Just another example of the racist Mayor of Pawtucket in action
Given the documented record of the City's actions on Morley Field, which includes many legal violations, this does not surprise me.
Barry, I worked the polls years ago. If I recall, it was the Secretary of State/Board of Elections who provided them. I would think it's up to them, not the city, to provide signage. The poll workers put up the signs (at least most of them). The State is supposed to be the expert as to rules, other languages, etc.
Barry, It sounds as though the Spanish-language signs were not at some (or all?) of the polls in. It sounds as though Common Cause doesn't know why--they want it investigated so it doesn't happen again (in November). You're probably right that either the signs weren't provided or the poll workers didn't put them up. As I know a couple of poll workers, like you, I'd be surprised if the problem is the workers not putting them up. The training seems pretty thorough.
being a poll worker in North Providence I'm sensitive to the issue. Though my town is not required to have signs or speakers in Spanish, the training proved by the Board of Elections made it clear to all they were required in Pawtucket Central Falls and Woonsocket. I'm not clear from this post just what Pawtucket did wrong. The Bd of Elections provided our signage, is Common Cause alleging that they did not provide the Spanish signage? Or that they provided the signage but poll workers didn't put them up. (hard for me to believe) Or something else?