In a significant move for South Asian representation, New York City’s ballots for the upcoming U.S. presidential election will include the Bengali language, marking it as the only Indian language on the list. This mandate ensures Bengali-speaking voters will have access to voting materials at select polling locations, a step aimed at promoting inclusivity and supporting the city’s diverse linguistic landscape.
New York City’s Board of Elections is legally required to provide ballots in four languages aside from English: Chinese, Spanish, Korean, and Bengali. The decision to include Bengali stems from a lawsuit over language access for minority communities, which ultimately mandated language support for Asian Indian communities. “There was a lawsuit about language access… The settlement required a certain population density to have an Asian Indian language. Through negotiations, they settled on Bengali,” explained Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the Board of Elections, NYC. This language addition reflects the city’s commitment to linguistic inclusivity for voters, especially those from the growing Bengali-speaking community.
The choice of Bengali, however, is rooted in practical considerations rather than a reflection of all languages spoken by South Asians in New York. With over 200 languages spoken across the city, Bengali was selected to meet the threshold of community representation and language assistance outlined by the settlement agreement.
The inclusion of Bengali, which first appeared on ballots in 2013, aligns with a broader federal mandate from the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which aims to ensure language support for minority communities. This legal provision, alongside New York City’s specific requirements, paved the way for expanded language access. Beyond ballot papers, Bengali-speaking voters are supported with a comprehensive set of materials in their native language, allowing them to fully engage in the voting process.
Members of the Bengali community have expressed satisfaction with this development. Subhshesh, a sales agent with Bengali roots in New York, highlighted how this support benefits his family and others who are more comfortable voting in Bengali. “People like me know English, but there are many in our community who are comfortable in the native language. I’m sure my father will appreciate seeing a Bengali language ballot paper,” he said.
Dr. Avinash Gupta, President of the Federation of Indian Associations, noted that this initiative would encourage voter participation among the Indian community, emphasizing the importance of representation and civic engagement. “It will help the Indian population to go out and vote. That is how we can get our voices heard,” Dr. Gupta said.
As New York City gears up for the election, the inclusion of Bengali demonstrates an important step towards inclusivity, enabling Bengali-speaking voters to actively participate and ensuring their voices are heard in the democratic process.
