NLA Discussion: New Readers Voting Rights

[Darlene Kostrub]

Regarding the discussion on ballot readability, several years ago when I 
was active in the League of Women Voters in Alaska, the League State 
Board worked on this issue.  It was a crucial issue in Alaska because the 
state was working to meet the guidelines of the Voting Rights Act while 
attending the needs of numerous language groups.  Eventually legislation 
was passed which mandated that all ballot language meet a readability 
standard.  I don't remember all the details but it seems the standard was 
around the seventh grade reading level.

Darlene Kostrub
Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition
551 SE 8th St., Suite 101
Delray Beach, Florida 33483
561-279-9013/Fax 561-265-3579