Los Angeles County celebrated the 50th anniversary of federal legislation requiring translated election materials and language assistance for voters during a special event at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
The county's Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan announced the milestone commemoration of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed into law by President Gerald R. Ford on Aug. 6, 1975. The provision built upon the original Voting Rights Act signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Aug. 6, 1965.
Los Angeles County leads the nation in language accessibility, providing election materials in English and 18 additional languages — more than any other jurisdiction in the United States.
The celebration, titled "We Speak Your Language: 50 Years of Language Access and Empowerment," honored community-based organizations and advocates who have worked to advance language access and voter empowerment throughout the county.
"Language access is fundamental to fair and inclusive elections," Logan said. "For 50 years, Section 203 has opened the door for many voters. Here in L.A. County, we've built on that foundation — working closely with local partners to ensure that every eligible voter, in every community, has the opportunity to cast their ballot with confidence and in the language they understand."
Los Angeles County Board Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis emphasized the legislation's historical significance.
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965, with its amendment to Section 203 in 1975, stands as one of the most transformative pieces of legislation in American history, outlawing racial discrimination and giving millions of Americans, long excluded from full participation in our democracy," Solis said.
The county continues its commitment to multilingual voting access through collaboration with community organizations via the Language Accessibility Advisory Committee, which works to advance equitable voting access across Los Angeles County.
Senior Deputy Kathay Feng highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity in elections.
"For 50 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected language access — it's time to celebrate linguistic diversity as our superpower," Feng said. "We're showing that election offices can meet voters where they are and build a democracy that hears all voices — in the languages of our communities."
Voters can request translated election materials by contacting the county's Bilingual Assistance Hotline at (800) 815-2666, option 3. More information about voting in languages other than English is available at LAVOTE.gov.
Edited by SMDP Staff