The City of Richmond has hired officials with various language skills and translated voting information into four languages to help voters who need language assistance.
Ted Townsend, spokesperson for the City of Richmond, told the Richmond News election officials with various language skills will be able to help voters onsite.
“If there is an election official onsite who can assist a voter with marking a ballot or signing the voting book, the election official must sign a solemn declaration,” he added.
Meanwhile, information on how to mark a ballot, voting eligibility, and ID requirements is translated into French, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese and Punjabi, which will be shown on signages at the voting place.
“Voter's Guides are also available in those languages, and can be picked up from the Richmond Elections Office (City Hall), community centres, and libraries,” he said.
Voters who require translation assistance can also bring a friend or family member who can translate the ballot for them, and the translator must make a solemn declaration.
They must declare “that they will preserve the wishes of the election; will refrain from attempting in any manner to influence the elector as to how the elector should vote; and are able to make the translation, and will do so, to the best of their abilities,” said Townsend.
He reminded that voters, and those offering assistance, are discouraged from hanging around the voting place.
“Those who loiter will be asked to leave the voting site at once, to prevent them from disrupting the voting place,” he said.
In addition, there can be no campaign activity within 100 metres of a voting place.
