Multilingual Services Program

Background

Los Angeles County offers election information, materials, and assistance in 23 languages. Whether you're registering to vote, requesting a translated ballot, or looking for help at a Vote Center, we have resources available to support you every step of the way.

In 2006, federal legislation was passed that extended the minority-language provisions of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. Any county with more than 10,000 residents whose native language is not English and who indicated on their U.S. Census form a lack of proficiency in English, is required to provide election materials in the identified languages. A language is considered to be covered by the VRA as mandatory for the County's translated election materials if (1) more than 5% of the citizens of voting age are members of a single language minority and are limited English proficient OR (2) more than 10,000 of the citizens of voting age are members of a single language minority and are limited English proficient.

Multilingual Services Program Background

In 2006, federal legislation passed, extending the minority language provisions of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. Any county with more than 10,000 residents whose native language is not English and who indicated on their U.S. Census form a lack of proficiency in English, is required to provide election materials in the identified languages. A language is considered to be covered by the VRA as mandatory for the County's translated election materials if (1) more than 5% of the citizens of voting age are members of a single language minority and are limited English proficient OR (2) more than 10,000 of the citizens of voting age are members of a single language minority and are limited English proficient.

Languages We Support

Los Angeles County is currently required to provide election materials in English and the following languages based on the federal Voting Rights Act and state laws:

Armenian | Bengali | Burmese | Chinese | Cambodian/Khmer | Farsi | Filipino/Tagalog | Gujarati | Hindi | Indonesian | Japanese | Korean | Mongolian | Russian | Spanish | Telugu | Thai | Vietnamese

Oral Assistance (Additional Languages)

Phone and in-person assistance is also available in Hmong, Laotian, Nepali, Punjabi, and Urdu.

How to Get Help

Call Our Language Assistance Hotline

Have a question? Call us in any of our 23 languages.

General Language Assistance Hotline: (800) 815-2666, option 3, or call your language directly:

For assistance in Hmong, Lao, Nepali, Punjabi, Urdu call (800) 815-2666, option 3.

Request Translated Election Materials

You may request election materials in 18 languages.

Are you a new voter? If you have not registered to vote yet, complete and submit a new Voter Registration Form. You can apply online here.

If you’re already registered to vote, you may request a change in language preference in one of these ways:

• Fill out and return the Language Request Form on the back of your Sample Ballot Book
• Call the Language Assistance Hotline at (800) 815-2666, option 3

Once you set your language preference, you will automatically receive translated materials for every future election, including your Vote by Mail ballot and a Sample Ballot Book.

Bilingual Assistance at Vote Centers

You may vote at any Vote Center in Los Angeles County and request assistance in your language.

• Ballot Marking Device let you view and hear your ballot in any of the 18 languages
• Bilingual Election Workers and assigned them to Vote Centers based on community language needs.

Learn more about Vote Centers and in-person voting options.

Look Up Your Ballot Online

Registered voters can view their ballot online before Election Day. Use the Interactive Sample Ballot to preview your choices on your phone – then bring your selections to a Vote Center.

Learn more about the Interactive Sample Ballot.

Want to Help Other Voters?

If you speak English and any of our 23 service languages, consider becoming an Election Worker. It’s a meaningful way to serve your community.

Learn more about applying to be an Election Worker.

Additional Resources

Departmental Language Access Plan

The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk developed Departmental Language Access Plan: Election Programs in accordance with the Countywide Language Access Policy established by the Board of Supervisors. The plan reflects the Department's commitment to language access for Election Programs. We carry out this commitment by reducing barriers, increasing access, and enabling an independent voting experience.

• Download and print our Departmental Language Access Plan.

Election Materials