Posted on 04/04/2008 1:28:13 AM PDT by iowamark
An Iowa district court ruling has changed the state's online voter registration forms. The decision upheld Iowa's English-only law that went into effect back in 2002.
"The rule of law has been reaffirmed by the court," said United States Congressman Steve King. He spent years as an Iowa state senator spearheading the effort to pass the English Reaffirmation Act. It became law in 2002 and required official documents including voter registration forms to be in English-only.
"Having a common language binds us together, the most powerful unifying force known throughout history," King said.
King and other state leaders thought the secretary of state's website was out of line with Iowa's new law. It makes voter registration forms available in five languages. "I don't know of any other state where officials decided to ignore the law and do as they pleased," King said.
King filed a suit in early 2007 against then-Governor elect Chet Culver and new secretary of state Michael Mauro. Today an Iowa district court ruled in favor of King and upheld Iowa's English-only law.
"I understand the secretary of state and attorney general are going to take a look at the ruling and make a decision in terms of whether to appeal it," Governor Culver said.
The secretary of state's website did change today, no longer making online voter registration forms available in foreign languages.
Secretary of State Michael Mauro responded to the court's ruling saying, "The goal of my office was to make the voting process as uncomplicated as possible for all Iowans, regardless of their first language."
While an appeal is still possible, Congressman King says today's ruling was a victory for the state. "It's a happy day for us, it should be for all Iowans," he said.
The secretary of state's office also confirmed the matter has been referred to the attorney general and the decision to appeal the case has not been made.
Steve King is a true hero.
It's absurd that I pick up the phone and someone says Press 1 for English.
You can expect the Register to weep openly over this decision.
I could be wrong, but I’m almost certain that I heard someone say a few weeks ago at a Houston polling place that they had ballots available in some absurd number of languages, like over 20?
Everything over ONE infuriates me.
MM
the whole nation should have similar rulings!!!!!
ya think....jorge bush!!!!
For the life of me I can’t understand why this has been going on for so long. As you stated, you have to be minimally proficient in the English language to obtain American citizenship. You need to be a citizen to vote, in most places. Therefore it would tend to reason that ballots would, could and should be in only one language, English. I would go so far as to say anything less than this is aiding and abetting illegal voting activity by making it easier for illegals and non-citizens to vote.
Thank goodness a court has seen to it to uphold a vote by the people.
The next step would be to provide a ballot in whatever language the voter demanded. Chaos.
“Having a common language binds us together, the most powerful unifying force known throughout history,” King said.
I can just feel Rehka Basu winding up for a good scold !
This is a no brainer..
Only American citizens may vote...
To be naturalized a person must speak read and write English..
Why then, would that new American need to register to vote using a document in a language other than English ???
Anything to get new RAT voters.
English-only Ping!
English the Official Language Bump!
Can we lock them up for disobeying the law...they’d do the same to us I’m sure!
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