According to the US Census Bureau, around one in five (67.8 million) Americans speak a language other than English at home. This means many union members may speak little or no English.
Language barriers present unique challenges for unions holding votes for board elections, meeting motions, bylaw amendments, or other purposes. To ensure that all members participate in the decision-making on key issues that impact their workplaces and can vote for officers that best represent their interests, many unions are turning to union voting platforms that offer language customization features.
| Step | Action | Details / Tips |
| 1 | Identify language-minority members | Review union records to determine which members speak little or no English. Include census data if helpful. |
| 2 | Provide translated ballot instructions | Include translations in all communications: ballots, verification emails, printed notices. |
| 3 | Assign multilingual committee members | Ensure at least one committee member is fluent in a common foreign language spoken by the membership. |
| 4 | Use digital voting platforms | Platforms like ElectionBuddy allow multilingual voting and smartphone access for greater accessibility. |
| 5 | Enable Advanced Language Customization | Automatically translate all instructions, ballots, and confirmation messages into 50+ languages. |
| 6 | Educate and inform members | Make sure members understand the process, vote confidently, and feel included in decision-making. |
| 7 | Monitor and evaluate participation | Track voter turnout among language-minority groups to assess the effectiveness of accommodations. |
Voting is a pillar of democracy, and every eligible union member must be given an opportunity to vote. These rights are protected by federal and state laws, and include those who can’t read, speak, write, or understand English. More importantly, for election results to reflect the true opinions of union membership, everyone needs to be able to have their voice heard.
When accommodations are made for union election language requirements, language-minority groups feel more valued because they can understand the process and can confidently participate in workplace voting.
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) is one of the most diverse unions in the country. It also has considerable experience managing the voting process for foreign-language speakers.
In its Guide for Local Union Election Committees, the UAW states that unions “should make arrangements to provide adequate voting instructions to any non-English speaking members, such as including a translation of the instructions on the ballot in the appropriate foreign language.”
The UAW also recommends that when a large portion of a union’s membership speaks a foreign language, at least one committee member should be fluent in that language.
Creating and managing a multilingual vote manually can consume an enormous (and unnecessary) amount of effort and resources. Digital election tools have evolved considerably in recent years. Some, like ElectionBuddy, contain multilingual features and smartphone access that support multilingual workers.
Inclusive online voting offers greater accessibility to more union voters. This can help unify membership, boost participation, and elevate confidence and trust in the outcome of a vote.
ElectionBuddy recently added its intuitive Advanced Language Customization feature that gives unions complete control over their multilingual voting process. This new feature can automatically translate ballot instructions, questions, choices, verification details, confirmation information, and emailed, messaged, or printed notices into more than fifty languages.
When voters are added to the ElectionBuddy system and provide their preferred language, the system will send all communications and ballots in that language to that member.
Removing language barriers in union voting and making meaningful language accommodations is more than just doing simple translations. It requires forethought and planning to ensure every member understands the issues at hand, feels included, and can make informed decisions!
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