Voting Rights Tools and Resources

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the nation’s fastest growing racial demographic group¹. As the AAPI community grows, it is playing an important role in the outcome of elections. AJSOCAL recognizes that protecting the right to vote ensures that diverse voices are being heard, and representatives are accountable to the needs of the AAPI community.

¹ https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/04/09/asian-americans-are-the-fastest-growing-racial-or-ethnic-group-in-the-u-s/

Choose Your Language

Language Accessibility

Know Your Rights

How to Vote

Language Accessibility

Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act mandates that counties provide in-language election materials if more than 10,000 of its citizens of voting age are members of a single language minority and are limited English proficient. (52 U.S.C. § 10101)

Additionally, California Elections Code, section 14201 requires that county elections officials provide a translated facsimile ballot and instructions in a conspicuous location in precincts where 3% or more of the voting-age residents are members of a single language minority and lack sufficient skills in English to vote without assistance.

As a voter in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, you have the right to cast your ballot in federally mandated languages (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish). If you are voting in Los Angeles County, you have access to ballots translated in Filipino and Cambodian.

Even if you do not speak these languages, you have access to reference materials and signage in the following additional languages:

County	Per Section 203 (Translated Ballots)	California Elections code, section 14201
Los Angeles	Cambodian Chinese (includes Taiwanese)* Korean Spanish Filipino (Tagalog) Vietnamese	Armenian Bengali Burmese Farsi Gujarati Hindi Indonesian Japanese Khmer Mongolian Persian Russian Telugu Thai
Orange	Chinese (includes Taiwanese)* Korean Spanish Vietnamese	Filipino Gujarati Hindi Japanese Persian (Farsi)

Know Your Rights

Q: Am I qualified to vote?

As a citizen, you have the right to vote if you are a registered voter. You are eligible to vote if you are the following:

A U.S. citizen living in California
At least 18 years old
Registered where you currently live
Not serving a state of federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Q: What if I can’t register on time?

You have the opportunity to vote by provisional ballot. The county election officials will first certify your vote before counting it.

Q: Can I still vote if the voting center closes?

Yes, you can still vote if you are still in line when the voting center closes.

Q: Is anyone entitled to see how I vote?

No, you have the right to cast a secret ballot.

Q: I’ve made a mistake on my ballot. How can I change my vote?

If you have not casted you vote, you can ask an elections official at a polling place for a new ballot. You can exchange your vote-by-mail ballot for a new one at an elections office or at a voting center. You can vote using a provisional ballot at a voting center.

Q: I need assistance to fill out my ballot.

You have the right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose, except your employer or union representative.

Q: How can I drop off my vote-by-mail ballot?

You can drop off your vote-by-mail ballot at any drop box in your respective county. You can also drop your ballot at any polling place in California.

Q: I need a ballot in a different language.

You can request materials in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Spanish when you register to vote. Other languages may be available if enough people in your precinct speak the language.