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Panel hears bill to expand language access in elections, lower county thresholds and create pilot program
Summary
The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1381, which would lower the county threshold for required language assistance in elections and create a grant-funded pilot to expand translated voting materials.
Olympia — The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on House Bill 1381, a measure to expand language access in elections by lowering the thresholds that trigger non‑English voting materials and creating a grant-funded pilot program for selected counties.
Desiree Omley, OPR staff, told the committee that under current federal standards jurisdictions must provide translated voting materials when certain thresholds of limited‑English‑proficient voting‑age citizens and illiteracy rates are met. HB 1381 would lower the county threshold from 5 percent to 2.5 percent and would include certain 17‑year‑olds participating in the future‑voter program when calculating covered populations.
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