This nonprofit is helping get out the vote in multilingual communities

Megan Raposa -

Simplified: South Dakota Voices for Peace has translated and distributed more than 25,000 sample ballots to help multilingual communities prepare for Election Day.

Why it matters

  • South Dakota has a growing multilingual population. The most recent American Community Survey data shows nearly 63,000 use a language other than English when they're speaking at home.
    • Of those, some of the most common languages spoken are Spanish, Amharic, Arabic and Nepali – and sample ballots in all of those languages are available here.
  • Being able to access civic information in different languages is important to empower all voters and, ultimately, ensure South Dakota's elected officials are as representative of the community as possible, said Taneeza Islam, CEO of South Dakota Voices for Peace (SDVFP).
  • The nonprofit was not only able to translate the ballot into several languages but it also mailed 20,000 ballots across Minnehaha and Yankton counties where the organization has a strong presence. Another 3,500 Spanish ballots have been distributed in Sioux Falls by canvassers and by Nikki's La Mexicana Grocery Store.
"The voter turnout (statewide) is so low," Islam said. "We are trying to concentrate on one segment of our growing community to make sure they have access to make informed decisions. At the end of the day, this is all our community whether we speak English or not. We do have a voice."

Tell me more

The translated ballots are helpful even to multilingual folks who also speak English, Islam said.

"The comprehension is better made when it's in the language that they speak ... and that's critical when you're voting and making decisions for our community," she added.

SDVFP has previously mailed translated ballots, but not at this scale. In the last election cycle, they mailed 10,000 ballots.

Funding to translate and mail the sample ballots came from a national organization called Community Catalyst.

What happens next?

Islam said SDVFP hopes to continue increasing the number of translated ballots distributed in future elections.

  • She added that they'd also like to translate even more election resources for multilingual people in the state.
"Hopefully every election cycle we’ll just continue to grow how we’re educating our voters on how to vote, where to vote, how to register to vote," Islam said. "We want them to be engaged in the process and to make our community as represented as possible – that is what democracy is."