US sues Springfield over voting rights. Massachusetts

“The City of Springfield violated the voting rights of Spanish-speaking residents by failing to provide the proper assistance at the polls, according to a federal lawsuit filed yesterday by the US Justice Department.

Registered voters with little or no knowledge of English also faced “hostile treatment” at the polls and in some cases left without casting a ballot because of that treatment and lack of assistance, the department said.

The city failed to allow Spanish-speaking voters to receive assistance at the polls from a friend, a relative, or another person of their own choice, as is required by the law, even when there was no other bilingual assistance available, the Justice Department said.”

Stumble it! | |