Language Obstacles Hinder Somali Voters in Minnesota from Receiving Polling Assistance
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (AX) — In Stearns County, language barriers continue to thwart Somali-speaking residents from exercising their voting rights, despite Minnesota's efforts to promote accessible voting. With no legal stipulations for Somali interpreters at polling stations, many potential voters struggle with English proficiency, hindering their ability to cast votes.
Minnesota legislation mandates voting materials in Somali, Spanish, and Hmong to reflect prevalent non-English languages in the state. However, these…