Board of Elections moves to sue city for adding translators at polling sites

The Board of Elections filed a lawsuit against New York City in response to the city's move to provide extra translators at polling sites.

News 12 Staff

Feb 25, 2019, 10:20 PM

Updated 2,030 days ago

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Board of Elections moves to sue city for adding translators at polling sites
The Board of Elections filed a lawsuit against New York City in response to the city's move to provide extra translators at polling sites.
Back in October, Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced that they'd add translators at 100 poll sites for every election. The move added interpreters in six more languages: Russian, Haitian Creole, Italain, Arabic, Polish and Yiddish, at a cost of around $600,000.
But officials were met with opposition by the Board of Elections, which filed a lawsuit at Brooklyn Supreme Court Friday. The board argues it’s the only one authorized to make such assignments.
The Board of Elections prohibits electioneering with 100 feet of polling locations, which it says means any new interpreters would have to stand outside.
But advocates say translating isn't the same as electioneering, and a judge agreed. On Monday afternoon, the judge rejected the board's restraining order against the city.
News 12 reached out to the Board of Elections for comment and is awaiting a response.
Tuesday is the special election for New York City public advocate.