By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A growing number of smaller Arizona counties have decided to remove Spanish-language translations from their ballots, citing cost savings and ballot length as reasons for the change.
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An election advocacy group says the decision could disenfranchise voters whose primary language is not English.
Which counties are required to offer Spanish translations
Under federal law, four Arizona counties — Maricopa, Pima, Yuma and Santa Cruz — are required to provide Spanish translations on ballots and election materials. For all other counties, language assistance is optional.
Counties that have removed Spanish from ballots
Apache County’s board of supervisors voted unanimously in April to remove Spanish from its printed ballots for the upcoming midterm election. Gila and Mohave counties removed Spanish from their ballots before the 2024 election.
Both Apache and Gila County officials have said Spanish ballot translations will be available at express voting machines. However, that would require Spanish-speaking voters to cast ballots in person, while a majority of Arizona voters vote by mail.
Arizona’s Clean Elections brochure is provided in both English and Spanish.
Advocacy group raises concerns
Natalia Sells, senior campaign manager with All Voting Is Local — a nonpartisan organization working for free and fair elections — said she is worried the changes will result in thousands of Arizona voters being disenfranchised.
“Counties shouldn’t be making it harder for people to be able to vote just because English isn’t their first and primary language,” Sells said.
“All voters should have the same level of access to be able to cast their ballot and make informed choices when they go to vote,” she said. “They should be able to have the same opportunities and methods to vote as English-speaking voters.”
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Sells said making voting easier for Arizonans should not come with a price tag.
“Just because you don’t speak English, your opportunities to vote should not be limited,” she said.
Cost cited as a key factor
Doug Cole, a political consultant with Phoenix-based HighGround, said budget constraints are a primary driver behind the removals.
“I think cost is a factor — some of these smaller counties really run on a very, very thin budget,” Cole said. “In these tight times, county recorders and county supervisors in these smaller counties are looking to save some money.”
Federal rules on which counties are required to provide Spanish translations on election materials are based on population and the most recent Census.
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