NORTHAMPTON — The city is taking steps to help Latino voters navigate Election Day by placing Spanish-speaking translators at certain polling locations.
One such worker is Gloria Vincente, 72, of Northampton, who plans to be outside the Senior Center Tuesday in the hope of helping Latinos navigate the polls.
“There’s a lot of people here who need the help,” she said. “It’s very important, the vote of the people here.”
Vincente is one of many volunteers being organized by Northampton nonprofit Casa Latina. These volunteers will help voters get to the polls, and provide translation services as needed at polling locations in Amherst and Northampton.
The effort is a way to accommodate what many expect will be unprecedented Latino turnout, if some states’ early voting totals are duplicated on Tuesday.
While many Spanish-speaking voters have had to take basic English courses as part of their path to citizenship, organizers noted that those from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, aren’t subject to the same requirements.
Plus, the English language includes many exceptions and silent letters that make it difficult for non-native speakers to learn.
That’s where Vincente hopes to help. In her native Puerto Rico, Vicente said, voting is not like it is here.
“You don’t have work, you don’t have classes — nothing,” she said in Spanish of Election Day in her home country, which she left during the 1970s.
As a result, she said, it can be difficult for Puerto Rican immigrants to evade work commitments and make it to the polls to vote in America. Plus, she said, the whole process looks different in the United States.
“There’s a lot of people here who need the help,” she said. “It’s very important, the vote of the people here.”
Northampton has no legal obligation under the Voting Rights Act to provide dual-language materials to voters, because it does not meet the population-based threshold. Still, City Clerk Wendy Mazza said she has arranged for translators at some of the polling locations.
“I tried to pick the places where I knew there was a higher concentration of Spanish-speaking people,” she said Monday.
Lillian Torres, director of Casa Latina, said she helps get out the Latino vote during every election year. “I see that it is important for the community,” she said.
Another organizer, Gia Bernini, 48, of Florence said while it’s important every year, it’s particularly important this year, given Donald Trump’s comments throughout the campaign about Latinos.
“I think he would be capable of rounding everybody up and deporting people,” she said. “I know many, many folks who are partially documented, under-documented, not documented who are living in this country and have children born in this country … So I have to act. I just have to.”
Spanish-speaking voters in need of translation services or rides to the polls can call Casa Latina at 413-586-1569.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.