In a political climate where polarization appears to be the norm and misinformation can spread quickly, it can be easy to look at local, state, and national elections as something to dread rather than a right to be exercised. However, for many in the community, it is a reason to celebrate,
“For many New Americans, getting their citizenship and being able to participate in our democracy, is exciting for them,” Fowzia Adde from the Immigrant Development Center said. “They are so excited to come to this country, to be here to work, to understand, to pass the test for citizenship. It’s an achievement.”
However, having the right to vote doesn’t mean exercising it is easy, especially when you come from another country and don’t speak the same language. The League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley is trying to take that into consideration with a new pilot project meant to enhance the League’s VOTE411.org initiative.
VOTE411.org is the National League of Women Voters’ one-stop shop for election-related information, and where the North Dakota League publishes its voter guide for North Dakota’s June and November elections. In 2020, the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley used VOTE411.org to cover Cass County candidates and some of the state-level races for the General Election. In 2022, the North Dakota League covered all the races in the state, which included over 2,000 candidates in the Primary and 760 in the General Election. The League asks each candidate running for election to answer five questions and publishes the responses on VOTE411. Users can then enter their addresses to see the races and ballot measures that will be on their ballot and compare candidate responses.
“The mission of our league is to make voting accessible for everyone,” League RRV President, Randilyn Dombek said. “So having information about candidates really helps people feel confident about knowing who they are or are not voting for, and helps them feel more empowered to actually go use their voice and vote in the local elections. The main thing for us is that it is nonpartisan. We ask every candidate regardless of party to participate, and everyone has the same opportunity to present their views on things for their constituents.”
“And we don’t touch their responses, so it’s the candidate’s own words,” Whitney Oxendahl who coordinates VOTE411 for the North Dakota League and candidate outreach for Red River Valley said. “Spelling mistakes and all.”
When the 2023 North Dakota Legislative Assembly passed a law creating a requirement for naturalized US citizens to update their ID to vote, the Immigrant Development Center took on the task of trying to translate paperwork explaining the new law into languages other than English.
“The Secretary of State sent over 19,000 letters to citizens just in Fargo,” Fowzia said. “19,000 citizens just in this town need to get a special ID just to vote. But many don’t understand the English in the letter and haven’t changed their ID yet.”
