Arkansas United
Arkansas United launches new federally-funded immigrant integration program
An Arkansas advocacy group received a first-of-its-kind grant to help immigrants navigate the process of becoming U.S. citizens. Arkansas United will use the $250,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to launch the Together Towards Citizenship (TTC) 2023 Innovation Project. It’s the first time the grant has been awarded in Arkansas. […]
Nonprofit offers Spanish translation services, voter hotline during election
Immigrant advocacy group Arkansas United is providing translation services and assistance for Spanish-speaking voters during this year’s 2022 General Election. Arkansas United will host a “Party at the Polls” on Nov. 5 where the statewide nonprofit will have translators available at early voting locations in Benton, Washington and Pulaski Counties to assist Spanish-speaking voters. “Due […]
Some Arkansas counties recruit bilingual poll workers ahead of Nov. 8 election
Alex Reyes is the sole Hispanic poll worker in Yell County, where about 21 percent of the population is Hispanic. In the coming election cycles, Reyes believes more bilingual poll workers like her will be needed to help the state’s increasingly diverse population. “This is the tip of the iceberg…you’re going to need to speak […]
Appeals court stays judge’s ruling on voter-assist law
Arkansas election officials can once again limit the number of voters interpreters can assist at the polls after a federal appeals court delayed implementation of a ruling that had ordered the state to stop enforcing a 2009 state law. The law prohibited someone other than poll workers from assisting more than six voters in casting […]
Limited-English voters face barriers to casting ballots in Arkansas
Language poses a big challenge for voters with limited English proficiency in Arkansas, where ballots are only printed in English. Newly naturalized citizens are often afraid to vote because they don’t understand the ballot, said Mireya Reith, executive director of immigrant advocacy group Arkansas United. Voters with limited English proficiency also worry poll workers won’t […]