Some Oregon voters could get non-English ballots

SALEM, Ore. — Some Oregon election ballots would be printed in a language other than English under a bill that got its first hearing in Salem this week.

House Bill 3506 would require Oregon to provide voting materials in other languages in counties where either 5 percent of the population or 10,000 people speak a primary language other than English.

The Statesman Journal reports that 12 Oregon counties would be affected.

Secretary of State Kate Brown says it would help open up the voting process to people who have trouble reading or understanding English.

Opponents say the bill isn’t necessary.

Doug Schmidt testified that residents eligible for citizenship must live in the U.S for at least five years and by that time their English should be good enough to vote.