Judge orders Alaska to help Yup'ik voters (fwd link)

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Friday, August 01, 2008

Judge orders Alaska to help Yup'ik voters
Ruling requires state to provide language assistance in Bethel area

By Mary Pemberton | The Associated Press

ANCHORAGE - A federal judge is requiring elections officials to provide
Yup'ik-speaking voters in the Bethel area with language assistance so that they
can participate in a meaningful way in state elections.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess issued his order late Wednesday. The judge's
ruling stems from a lawsuit filed last year alleging a failure to satisfy
provisions of the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act.

The ruling requires the state to provide language assistance, including trained
poll workers who are bilingual in English and Yup'ik. Sample ballots will have
to be written in Yup'ik. A glossary of election terms also written in Yup'ik
will have to be provided.

Access full article below:
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/080108/sta_312394876.shtml