Clean Elections Completes Voter Education Guide in American Sign Language for General Election Completed ASL edition of the voter education guide published to coincide with start of early voting
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission (Clean Elections) and the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing announce the completion of the Voter Education Guide for the upcoming General Election in American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is an original language and now people who prefer it can obtain voting information in their native language.
“We are proud of our Voter Education Guide because it is the only complete non-partisan handbook for Arizona voters and adding an ASL edition expands access to even more voters,” said Gina Roberts, Clean Elections Voter Education Director. “Thanks to the commitment of our partners and the expertise of the ASL translators who worked with us on this project we are increasing accessibility to useful voting information.”
The Voter Education Guide contains key details about the voting process and statements from the candidates running for statewide and legislative offices. The ASL guide is an innovative voter education tool made available alongside the printed VEG pamphlet which is mailed to every voter household in Arizona. It can be found on the Clean Elections YouTube Channel on an exclusive playlist. The collection of videos featuring the signing of the entire guide has closed captioning and audio. The ASL guide for the Primary Election received hundreds of views. The ASL guide for the General Election will have its own playlist.
“We commend Clean Elections for creating accessible education materials for voters, including voters whose primary language is ASL,” said Nikki Soukup, ACDHH Director of Public Policy and Community Relations. “The collaborative efforts between partners to incorporate accessibility best practices are valued, and provide for a meaningful, equitable voter engagement experience for Arizonans who are deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.”'
In addition to ASL, the Voter Education Guide is printed in English and Spanish. It is also produced in Navajo as well as in an Audio Version through Sun Sounds of Arizona. The ASL edition was first added in the 2020 election cycle and became a permanent edition of the guide.
According to the U.S. Census, about 11.5 million Americans or 3.5 percent of the population have some sort of hearing impairment, ranging from difficulty in hearing conversation to total hearing loss. In addition, about 50 million of the population experience some level of tinnitus — a constant ringing in the ears.
Clean Elections was established by Arizona voters to restore citizen participation and confidence in Arizona’s political system, to improve the integrity of State government and to promote freedom of speech under the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions. Visit www.azcleanelections.gov to learn more.