SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Last year, the Springfield Election Office received complaints that they weren’t doing enough to help minority voters — specifically Spanish-speaking residents.
This year, election officials want to make sure they don’t hear those same complaints again.
“I think the buzzword I would use is ‘extra,’ we’ve decided to have extra everything — poll workers, extra prep time before the election, extra materials at the polling places,” says Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola. “And we are asking the voters to give themselves extra time.”
It’s the only way you can truly prepare for the 54,000 registered voters who are expected to cast their ballots in Springfield tomorrow — especially after a city councilor accused the election office of not doing enough to help Latino voters during last year’s primary.
But today, we spoke with some Spanish-speaking Springfield residents who say, that’s simply not true.
“There is always someone Hispanic who helps with orientation and helps us with instructions in Spanish,” says Edith Cruz.
Xiomara Serrano adds, “They explain and advise, and I recommend that people go to vote tomorrow because all Hispanics depend on those votes, it’s really important.”
“We obviously have poll workers on hand that speak Spanish, that speak English,” says Oyola. “In some locations, we have Vietnamese poll workers as well, and those poll workers are educated and very available to help the voter.”
You can also bring a friend or family member to help make sense of some of those more complex ballot questions.
“The state of Massachusetts allows, by law, any ‘assistor’ of choice,” says Oyola. “So any person who feels like they need assistance can bring someone with them.”
Because this year’s ballot includes three very detailed ballot questions, election officials say it will probably take everyone a little longer to cast their vote.
If possible, try to vote in the late morning or early afternoon, when the polls will be less crowded.
Several polling places have also changed since the last presidential election. To find your polling place, go to www.wheredoivotema.com
Why? What’s different they have Spanish ballets don’t they? I don’t even want to watch this because any illiterate person can ask for help. Any non English speaking person can get help… from a friend or family member if there’s no one else there to help.
Why? What’s different they have Spanish ballets don’t they? I don’t even want to watch this because any illiterate person can ask for help. Any non English speaking person can get help… from a friend or family member if there’s no one else there to help.
Learn write read and speak English !!
My Italian grandmother came from Italy and she was proud to learn English. She didn’t need Italian translators.
My Italian grandmother came from Italy and she was proud to learn English. She didn’t need Italian translators.
Still wondering why I need to press 1 for English?
No abla English? Get the f?$@ out
Spanish speaking constituents are gonna vote..any voter that needs help will get it..and people will always say rude things..such is life in 2012..deal with it!
I wish Hispanics learning English was as simple as some make if seem. But poor immigrants here want to learn English the problem is that it’s a lengthy process and require many years of learning and interaction in English our ESL programs are a start but without more free or affordable programs from charity or Hispanic outreach from within it’s communities many older Hispanics will continue to be unable to communicate in English.
Just because you have assimilated and forgot your roots and culture and your tru self doesnt mean every race has to every thing you have from holidays to music to art youve stolen from other cultures and call it yours these were never your lands you stole em too every problem we have in this country is really your fault cause no matter what the problem the rules and laws wer set forth by a white man …so dont blame anyone and look no further but the mirror..
I know a man learned to speak, read, and write in English in 3.5 years after leaving a poor 3rd world Spanish country. He also got his citizenship.
My problem is that the system seems to just hand everything to the Hispanic population. There are many other people of different ethnic origins that don’t get the same treatment. Everything is for them…what about Asian, polish, Russian, or anyone else? All my forefathers that came to this country had to learn English and were not well educated so don’t use education. There are many Hispanics that can speak both languages that can help teach them! Why must we continue to lower the standard instead if trying to bring everyone up to the standard?
Dont argue with fools theyll scorn the wisdom of your words….
anonymous777 commented on WGGB Springfield:
Just because you have assimilated and forgot your roots and culture and your tru self doesnt mean every race has to every thing you have from holidays to music to art youve stolen from other cultures and call it yours these were never your lands you stole em too every problem we have in this country is really your fault cause no matter what the problem the rules and laws wer set forth by a white man …so dont blame anyone and look no further but the mirror..
This may not be politically correct, but this is America and if you want to be a citizen, learn the dam language.
anonymous777…actually we in America have people that make, enforce, and review laws that are of many different races and ethnic backgrounds. And its not forgetting your roots if you learn the language primarily spoken in the country you live in instead or forcing everyone to learn how to speak to you. I think everyone should learn english! Educate yourself. Just saying…. why doesn’t anyone do this for the Vietnamese population or Chinese population in Springfield? Or the Russian population? We have people here from many different countries. Also moron, I never stole this land, nor did my forefathers. This country was founded way before my family came here, although for someone that is uneducated like yourself I wouldn’t expect you to know that.
anonymous777 commented on WGGB Springfield:
Dont argue with fools theyll scorn the wisdom of your words….
What wisdom is this that you possess anonymous?
What wisdom is this that you possess anonymous?
Then I shouldn’t argue with you then, I may offend you
Then I shouldn’t argue with you then, I may offend you
It is easy to help them, all they have to do is vote Obama for more handouts.
It is easy to help them, all they have to do is vote Obama for more handouts.
Anonymous777, after thinking about your comment you made earlier I might be inclined to think you might be racist towards what you call “the white people”. Your comment was ignorant on many levels. You should take a history class and see how many civilizations and cultures have taken over a country or territory and killed off the people or enslaved them. If you are Hispanic, you should know this, since Spain did that to the island of PR. They also took their music influence from other cultures as well as every other culture does. Next time try to make the comments to someone that doesn’t know some history.
Frankly this is america, we speak and read english in this country, my ancestors came from germany learned to read and write english. did not ask for special handouts, and worked hard. If you cannot speak or read english you should have no right to vote. if you were not born in this country you should not have no right to vote! and if you dont like it pack you bags and go back to where you came from!!!
this is america but latinos are everywhere like it or not most don’t knw english but most do all those other races need to learn english cause they are immagrants Puerto ricans dont need to learn english u need to learn spanish the second most spoken language Im just saying O BY THE WAY LETS GET IT OBAMA….
im not gonna sit here and trade words with racist 36 yr old correctional officers..lol lol lol
Sorry anonymous, but I’m not a correctional officer. Again, uneducated.
Sorry, I won’t learn Spanish because of the mentality and attitude of people like you Benny! And yes the other immigrants need to learn English! But no one caters to them like the Hispanics. I don’t see Vietnamese at the bank arm’s …just saying, if you do for one you have to do for all!!!
Atm’s
Besides anonymous, you made the comments earlier and I had and a comeback to it,you obviously didn’t like. I guess its easy for you to just call someone a racist (even though your comments were) than to debate a subject. Don’t act like you know something when, when you don’t know much at all. I feel sorry for you
But its funny that everyone I talk to that is Hispanic and not from PR believes the same way I do. So they must be racist too even thought they are from Spain or Argentina or even Mexico. They even believe people need to speak English and the ones that don’t are just lazy!