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Elections staff describe LanguageLink process, say Anchorage provides assistance though not federally required
Summary
Elections Administrator Liz Edwards and Deputy Amy Solberg told the committee Aug. 27 that Anchorage has used LanguageLink since 2021 to help limited‑English voters; the Voting Rights Act 5% threshold triggers translations in some jurisdictions, but Anchorage has not met that threshold and provides interpretation as a courtesy.
At a meeting of the Assembly Quality Municipal Services, Ethics and Elections Committee on Aug. 27, Election Administrator Liz Edwards and Deputy Election Administrator Amy Solberg described how the Municipality of Anchorage uses LanguageLink to provide phone interpretation and language‑access materials at vote centers.
Edwards said the federal Voting Rights Act requires translation or language assistance when more than 5 percent of the voting population in a jurisdiction is limited‑English proficient, and that the Alaska Division of Elections published determinations in December 2020 identifying which areas meet that threshold. Edwards said Anchorage has not met the 5 percent threshold but that the municipality has used LanguageLink since…
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