Re: Vote Aqui

When I saw the post title, I thought "Aqui" was someone's name, as in "Vote for Aqui"!

I guess you can tell I don't know Spanish at all....

Re: Vote Aqui

anyone who votes has to be able to understand English... since the names in the polling booths are only in English. or at least that's the way they are by me.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

anyone who votes has to be able to understand English... since the names in the polling booths are only in English. or at least that's the way they are by me.

Do you mean the candidate names? The candidate names are only in English...

Hmmm...I am Latina. My name is Sandra in Spanish or in English.

John Venditto is John Venditto in Spanish or in English.

Spanish people who don't speak English don't walk around speaking Jorge Bush. Trust me.

Re: Vote Aqui

Just because an American Citizen is more comfortable w/ one language over another, does NOT make them uniformed.

And FYI, Puerto Ricans are American citizens, many of whom speak both languages fluently. As the grand-daughter of a 93 year old Puerto Rican woman who came to NY speaking zero English, but was and still is more informed than 90% of the US born Americans I know, I have zero issue w/ the sign.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

Just to throw some info out there---there IS a reason that they put "Vote Aqui" -- because while you have to have a basic "grasp" of the english language to become a citizen -- there ARE some ppl who do NOT have to read/write/speak english fluently to qualify to become a citizen, and may request a waiver

Here is the information direct from USCIS:

What if I cannot meet the English or
civics requirements?
Certain applicants, because of age or disability, have different English and civics requirements.

Age — There are three important
exemptions for testing based on age:

(a) If you are over 50 years old and
have lived in the United States as
a Permanent Resident for periods
totaling at least 20 years, you do
not have to take the English test. You
do have to take the civics test in the
language of your choice.

(b) If you are over 55 years old and
have lived in the United States as
a Permanent Resident for periods
totaling at least 15 years, you do
not have to take the English test. You
do have to take the civics test in the
language of your choice.

(c) If you are over 65 years old and
have lived in the United States as
a Permanent Resident for periods
totaling at least 20 years, you do not
have to take the English test, but you
do have to take a simpler version of the
civics test in the language of your choice.

To qualify for one of these exceptions, your time as a Permanent Resident does nothave to be continuous. You are eligible for the exemption as long as your total time residing in the United States (as a Permanent Resident) is at least 15 or 20 years. You may not count time when you were not a Permanent Resident.

Disability — If you have a physical or developmental disability or a mental
impairment so severe that it prevents you from acquiring or demonstrating the required knowledge of English and civics, you may be eligible for an exception to these requirements. To request an exception, you must file a “Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions” (Form N-648). If you believe you qualify, contact a licensed
medical or osteopathic doctor or licensed
clinical psychologist who will need to
complete and sign your N-648.

If you qualify for a waiver of the English
proficiency requirement, you must be
prepared to bring an interpreter.

Message edited 11/7/2007 10:25:58 AM.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

A thought:

I would rather see a person who doesnt speak a lick of English cast an informed vote, than a fluent English speaker cast a vote without having educated themselves. We are kidding ourselves if we think this doesnt happen. It does.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

those bothered by it are going under an the assumption that those who can read VOTE AQUI cannot also read VOTE HERE.

even my MIL, who doesn't speak english well at all, can READ a simple phrase as VOTE HERE...but I don't see the harm in making it easier.

this country was founded on Immigrants. built on the backs of immigrants.

yes...your family was immigrants and learned english yadda yadda...before the whole country was ripe with the intolerance so eloquently expressed in your OP, that's why life was so much more difficult for earlier immigrants.

it's backasswards thinking IMO. this is one of the most politically apathetic countries in the world. As someone else said, I'd rather be more welcoming to immigrants that actually give a sh1t than the "english speaking americans" that for the most part, don't.

and then there is the whole debate on whether or not the majority of this country actually speaks english correctly.....

ETA: the signs are probably also but up by demographics..

I am sure here in the city..in Chinatown, Koreatown, and other areas, the signs are written in the language of the "minority" culture that is most seen in the area.

Message edited 11/7/2007 10:35:57 AM.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

Posted by MrsPJB2007

Posted by headoverheels
see now i was all set to agree with dita, but i had no idea that you could become a citizen not knowing how to speak english (well). under these circumstances, as long as a voter were well informed of the candidates and their platforms before they voted, then i see no problems with a sign saying "vote aqui" - or a sign saying "vote here" in any language.

the only reason i know this stuff is because its what i do for a living--i help ppl get work permit, green cards, citizenship, etc. so don't worry---this stuff is NOT common knowledge at all...most ppl don't know this!

Re: Vote Aqui

Posted by BabyAvocado

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

anyone who votes has to be able to understand English... since the names in the polling booths are only in English. or at least that's the way they are by me.

Do you mean the candidate names? The candidate names are only in English...

Hmmm...I am Latina. My name is Sandra in Spanish or in English.

John Venditto is John Venditto in Spanish or in English.

Spanish people who don't speak English don't walk around speaking Jorge Bush. Trust me.

Re: Vote Aqui

Personally, the only thing about "vote aqui" that bothers me is that it excludes all the other people who don't speak Spanish. NY has tons of people who speak languages other than Spanish.



ITA. for example, I lived with a turkish girl and a spanish girl... we had a problem with our cable bill... and my turkish roomate tried to call and complain and got nowhere because they did not understand her as well. but my spanish roomate (who had far less knowledge of the english languange than my turkish roommate) called and got all charges reversed b.c she was able to speak in her native tongue ( I was not home at the time to help them). I guess it just seems a little unfair.... not that it is wrong, but just un fair to every other foreigner

Message edited 11/7/2007 11:13:41 AM.

Re: Vote Aqui

I have to agree.

Re: Vote Aqui

Re: Vote Aqui

English is NOT the official language of this country. I see no reason why it should bother anyone.

Re: Vote Aqui

I did not know that- then it does make sense to have a sign that says "Vote Aqui". However that does make it unfair to people who meet these requirements and speak languages other than Spanish. But then we can't have a dozen Vote Here signs in different languages.

ETA: I don't understand how you could live in a country so long and not know the language though.

Message edited 11/7/2007 12:22:54 PM.

Re: Vote Aqui

....

Message edited 3/7/2013 3:18:40 PM.

Re: Vote Aqui

I live and vote in Brooklyn. It doesn't get any more diverse than my little "town".

When I go to vote, there are signs.
The signs say: "Vote Here", "Vote Aqui", and something in other languages which I assume all mean "Vote Here".

I couldn't care less what language they write it in.

Go to the NYC voter registration website: http://vote.nyc.ny.us/register.html and you will see this:



If you still feel left out or irritated or offended then maybe you should write a letter to those people whose names (in English) you just finished voting for and tell them how you feel.

Message edited 11/7/2007 12:27:59 PM.