For ballot measures (not for things such as the presidency, senators, congressmen, etc.) would permit letting naturalized citizens use their native languages to vote; the translations should be very accurate, though, and vetted by both sides.
Lawyers always litigate the letter of the law and all of our legistlation is entered in only one language. The translation is not the same thing.
...For ballot measures (not for things such as the presidency, senators, congressmen, etc.) [I] would permit letting naturalized citizens use their native languages to vote; the translations should be very accurate, though, and vetted by both sides.
I disagree.
If one is in America, they should speak the language - English...
And for that matter, those folks in the United Kingdom ought to learn how to speak our language also, if they are going to have the audacity to call it English... but that's another story.
I believe it was Augustine who wrote that its not languages, or culture, or ethnic background, or common history, that binds a nation together -- its their common Creed. What they hold near and dear. Is that nation founded on the Rock of Christ - or does its citizens hold to a hodge-podge of different beliefs? The one built on the Rock will stand. The one built on the rickety structure of competing/conflicting Creeds will implode.
An interesting statement.
And probably also true.
That said, I'd still insist that a Nation's citizens should speak its language. Obviously if it was a trade-off between 'common creed' vs. 'common language' - then sure, no contest - Common Creed wins. But that's not on the table.
I don't agree with those tri-lingual ballots (in the Bay Area alone they have over 20 different languages which the ballots are printed)). Sure, some of those ballot measures are written in a very convoluted manner, but I would not respond by providing a crutch that allows one to get by with a minimal understanding of English...
Besides, there are other 'techniques', other than reading the entire ballot measure, that one can use to help them on their election selections.
E.g., collect all of those pre-election advertisements and use them for 'guidance'. If the San Jose Mercury is for it, then one ought to be against it (although they have tried to trick me a few times). If the Teacher's Union has endorsed it - vote no. Etcetera...
There are many such helpful techniques -- but we do not need multi-lingual ballots.
If one is a citizen of the United States they need to learn English. Its hard, but I'd expect the same of myself if I were a citizen of Mexico (and I'd expect the other citizens of that nation to learn English also...).