By Simon Albaugh \u2013 Yemeni American News<\/p>\n
HAMTRAMCK, Mich. \u2013 The City Council has voted unanimously to direct the city\u2019s efforts toward translating election materials into the Arabic Language. Although there\u2019s no promise that Arabic ballots would be ready before the midterm primary election, the city is beginning the process and will continue to provide sample ballots and other election materials in Arabic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this is basically saying is that we will make our best effort to do what you intend, which is also to put ballots in Arabic,\u201d said Kathy Angerer, city manager for Hamtramck. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to work with the vendor, with Wayne County, with the State of Michigan to accomplish this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the vote, Angerer outlined the limitations and the established efforts for translating ballots into Arabic. The city manager outlined that this is not a resolution that will make the translation happen. But it will direct the city administration\u2019s efforts toward translating the ballots.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to realize that this is something that has to be ready long before election,\u201d Angerer said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re already in April. So we\u2019re moving forward, but we\u2019re moving forward so that it\u2019s correct. You know the problems we have with translation here. So please allow us the time to do it, and we might need your help to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the vote, only two councilmembers participated in discussing the resolution. Councilman Mohammed Hassan asked about the cost of the translation, to which Angerer could not give an exact estimate yet. Still, without a cost estimate, Councilman Hassan voiced his support for the resolution.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing, I feel, to start something,\u201d Hassan said. \u201cI know it\u2019s not going to go on all the ballots \u2013 just some of the ballots for those who want them. Not a bad idea. So let\u2019s start it and see where it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Following Dearborn\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n
On Mar. 22, Dearborn City Council voted to provide Arabic Language ballots<\/a> for residents of the largely Arab American suburb of Detroit. The resolution eventually passed unanimously through Dearborn\u2019s City Council after intense discussion.<\/p>\n Mustapha Hammoud \u2013 who introduced the resolution \u2013 says the cost of translating Dearborn\u2019s documents should cost around $20,000. Hammoud told another newspaper that there are many budget items in Dearborn that are not as important.<\/p>\n The biggest hurdle for Dearborn was brought to attention by its city clerk George Darany.<\/p>\n \u201cThe clerk\u2019s office has been providing sample ballots in Arabic since August of 2020,\u201d Darany said. \u201cThe council resolution would convert those sample ballots into actual ballots that could be put into tabulators. 2,500 sample Arabic ballots were provided at the polls for the 2021 November general election. 21 were actually requested.\u201d<\/p>\n