The below letter was forwarded to us today. I included two hyperlinks to educate readers. – dak
—
May 5, 2019
Dear Governor Kemp,
It has come to my attention that there is a vacancy for the Stone Mountain Judicial Court. I saw that Dax Lopez is on the short list as a judge for the State Court of DeKalb County.
While I am not familiar with the other names, there is one that stands out that I would not like to represent our courts in any capacity. That is Dax Lopez.
Mr. Lopez has a history of being an activist and board member in the advocacy organization GALEO. This organization has lobbied against enforcement of our immigration laws, 287g, and tightening our voter identification process, just to name a few things. While I am fairly certain you would not appoint someone with his history, I felt compelled enough to send you this letter.
As you may know or recall, our two Georgia senators would not recommend him for a federal court judge.
Brian Kemp silent on allowing voters to decide on official English
Pro-English voters should ask questions
A December 2015 Rosetta Stone poll showed that a bipartisan 76% of Georgians support making English Georgia’s constitutional official language. The idea is English as official, not “English only” as goes the portrayal by dishonest opponents.
Policy differences for candidates in the race for Georgia governor may not extend to allowing Georgia voters to decide if the state constitution should be amended to make English the official language of government.
According to an AJC report last week, Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams promised to oppose constitutional official English in the General Assembly as governor and boasted of fighting against allowing voters to answer a ballot question when she was in the legislature.
We thought it surprising that the AJC did not include a quote or position from Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp on the voter-popular issue, so last Wednesday we sent a policy question and request for a quote to the Kemp campaign.
Brian Kemp – photo, Facebook
“Do you support allowing Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question that would amend the state constitution to make English the official language of Georgia government and which would end current practice of offering the written road rules portion of the DDS drivers license exam in (eleven) foreign languages?
If so, will you use the power of the governor’s office to promote that cause for the 2020 election?”
A week later, we have not received a response from candidate Kemp. Maybe curious voters will ask him.
All concerned should be aware that Georgia has a 1996 statute in place that makes English the official language, but it also says officials can ignore that directive:
“State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state are authorized to use or to print official documents and forms in languages other than the official language, at the discretion of their governing authorities.”
The concept of allowing voters to have a voice on the matter is quite popular in the Georgia senate. Introduced by state Senator Josh McKoon, in 2016 SR 675 passed the Georgia senate with every Republican member voting “YEA.” It was not allowed a vote on the House floor.
McKoon’s Resolution created a ballot question voters would have considered that year which read:
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that English is the official language of the State of Georgia?”
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “Yes.”
All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “No.”
If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.”
Most conservatives would like to have the chance to answer that question in November, 2020.
Readers who are not closely involved in Gold Dome politics are likely asking why they have not already been permitted to vote on making official English part of the state constitution. It helps to know that the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce are vehemently opposed to that idea.
It may also help to know that in metro-Atlanta’s DeKalb School District alone, administrators are dealing with students from 180 different countries who speak 140 different languages.
Without a constitutional mandate that English is the official language of government, readers can make their own predictions on how long it is before the angry marches in the streets begin with the demand that government in Georgia accommodate every imaginable language with the cry that “diversity is our strength.”
It seems like something a Republican candidate for Georgia governor would comment on. Comprende?
D.A. King of Marietta is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society.
What is Republican Brian Kemp’s position on allowing voters to decide on official English?
Candidate policy differences in the race for Georgia governor may not extend to allowing Georgia voters to decide if the state constitution should be amended to make English the official language of government.
A December 2015 Rosetta Stone poll showed that a bipartisan 76% of Georgians support making English Georgia’s constitutional official language. The idea is English as official, not “English only” as goes the portrayal by dishonest opponents.
Last week, Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams promised to oppose constitutional official English in the General Assembly as governor and boasted of fighting against allowing voters to answer an official English ballot question when she was in the legislature.
It is surprising that there doesn’t seem to be a quote or position from Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp on the voter-popular issue.
All concerned should be aware that Georgia has a 1996 statute in place that makes English the official language, but also says officials can ignore that directive. So, they do exactly that.
Introduced by state Senator Josh McKoon, in 2016 SR 675 passed the Georgia senate with every Republican member voting “YEA.” It was not allowed a vote on the House floor. McKoon’s Resolution created a ballot question voters would have considered that year which read:
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that English is the official language of the State of Georgia?”
If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.”
Readers who are not closely involved in Gold Dome politics are likely asking why they have not already been permitted to vote on making official English part of the state constitution. It helps to know that the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce are vehemently opposed to that idea.
It may also help to know that in metro-Atlanta’s DeKalb School District alone, administrators are dealing with students from 180 different countries who speak 140 different languages.
Without a constitutional mandate that English is the official language of government, readers can make their own predictions on how long it is before the angry marches in the streets begin with the demand that government in Georgia accommodate every imaginable language with the cry that “diversity is our strength.”
It seems like something a Republican candidate for Georgia governor would comment on.
D.A. King of Marietta is president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society. Here.
The below question was sent to Kemp campaign spokesman, Ryan Mahoney and candidate Kemp last week. We have not received a response. We have confirmed they have seen the request.
Sent October 3, 2018 at 11:03
From: “D.A. King”
Subject: Media request for quote and candidate position: Constitutional official English
Date: October 3, 2018 at 10:47:58 AM EDT
To: ryan@kempforgovernor***
Cc: Brian Kemp
According to the AJC, Stacey Abrams has announced her intent to oppose allowing Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question to amend the state constitution to make English the official language of Georgia government and was active in that opposition when she was in the General Assembly.
AJC: “The event at Plaza Fiesta, a mall largely populated with Latino-owned businesses, was a meet-and-greet pegged to Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15. Abrams enumerated her proposed policies that touch Hispanic and immigrant communities, from preventing wage theft to opposing a state constitutional amendment making English the official language of Georgia, a bill she fought as a freshman state representative.” Here.
FYI, In 2016 SR 675 passed the Georgia senate with every Republican member voting “YEA.” It was not allowed a vote on the House floor.
That Resolution created the ballot question:
” Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that English is the official language of the State of Georgia?”
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “Yes.”
All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote “No.”
If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.”
FYI – There is a statute in place that makes English the official language, but also says officials can ignore that directive. “State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state are authorized to use or to print official documents and forms in languages other than the official language, at the discretion of their governing authorities.”
A 2015 Rostta Stone poll shows a 76% percent approval from Georgia voters on constitutional official English.
—> Question for candidate Kemp: Do you support allowing Georgia voters to decide on a ballot question that would amend the state constitution to make English the official language of Georgia government and which would end current practice of offering the written road rules portion of the DDS drivers license exam in (11) foreign languages? If so, will you use the power of the governor’s office to promote that cause for the 2020 election?
I will be writing the story this evening and will include any response or notation of lack thereof from the Kemp campaign.
To the astonishment of many Georgia conservatives and to the glee of the illegal alien lobby, Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian Kemp, produced *five videos in foreign languages ( Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Korean, and Mandarin) to help non-English speakers “on voter registration, absentee voting by mail, advance in-person voting, and Election Day voting.”
“These new resources will help voters who are non-English speakers know how to register to vote and prepare to cast their ballot” says Kemp. “Georgia is not a ‘covered jurisdiction’ under the federal Voting Rights Act to offer election information in other languages,” Kemp’s press release told us (*the release says “four” – we count five foreign language videos).
Also in the Macon Telegraph today ( “Time to make English the official language of Georgia”) State Senator Josh McKoon reminded Georgians that while there is an “an extremely weak and all but ignored 1996 law says that English is Georgia’s official language” on the books. “But with 10 foreign languages used for our driver’s license exam and foreign language videos for voter registration, it is obvious that more must be done to insure the commonsense unity and voting security that official English provides.” McKoon writes. We agree. After passing the state senate with the required two-thirds majority, Senator McKoon’s effort to allow all Georgia voters to consider a ballot question on amending the state constitution to official English in this year’s election was killed in the GOP House. Hello, state Rep Wendell Willard.
Quanto costa?
The question on many minds around the state was about the monetary cost of these videos to taxpayers – or as they may say in the Georgia Secretary of State’s office “quanto costa?”
Our friend, Ye Sun Whiltse sent an open records request to the SOS office asking that very question. But in English. Ye Sun’s letter:
October 11, 2016
Open records request
To: Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-2881
Secretary Kemp,
As an active Republican voter, a proud naturalized American citizen and retired U.S. Army veteran, I am disappointed to learn that you have spent tax dollars to produce multiple foreign language videos aimed at potential voters who do not speak or understand the English language. Most school children and all naturalized Americans understand that with very few exceptions, the ability to speak, read and understand simple English is a requirement for naturalization, and that it is a crime for non-citizens to vote in Georgia elections.
I am requesting all documents that discuss or illustrate the cost of the video production of recently released voter registration assistance videos done in the Hindi, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin and Vietnamese languages under Georgia’s open records law.
I may expand this request in the near future, but for the time being, I look forward to your timely reply as set forth in state law.
Unless my math has gotten even worse that it was in school, Republican Brian Kemp spent $ 48,119.00 on videos in foreign languages to help non-English speakers vote in Georgia. Huh…
Note, Nov. 16, 2020: The other three (or four) videos have been removed from Youtube and the SoS page. We apparently only have the one because it was embedded here in 2016. In case it is removed somehow as well, HERE is a link to a back-up. *August 8, 2021 – here is another one.
To: Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp
214 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-2881
Secretary Kemp,
As an active Republican voter, a proud naturalized American citizen and retired U.S. Army veteran, I am disappointed to learn that you have spent tax dollars to produce multiple foreign language videos aimed at potential voters who do not speak or understand the English language. Most school children and all naturalized Americans understand that with very few exceptions, the ability to speak, read and understand simple English is a requirement for naturalization, and that it is a crime for non-citizens to vote in Georgia elections.
I am requesting all documents that discuss or illustrate the cost of the video production of recently released voter registration assistance videos done in the Hindi, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin and Vietnamese languages under Georgia’s open records law.
I may expand this request in the near future, but for the time being, I look forward to your timely reply as set forth in state law.
(ATLANTA, GA) – On Tuesday, October 4th, Secretary of State Brian Kemp unveiled the first of four new video tutorials in-language on voter registration, absentee voting by mail, advance in-person voting, and Election Day voting.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta and GALEO applaud Secretary of State Brian Kemp for translating online voter registration tutorials in Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese. With only six days left until the voter registration deadline, we appreciate Secretary Kemp’s effort to close the language barrier gap and to outreach to citizens who are Limited English Proficient.
We hope this is the beginning of the Secretary of State’s Office offering more in-language voter education materials and continue to support Asian Americans, Latinos, and all People of Color as we carry on our fight for full access to participation in American Democracy
Videos are uploaded on Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s YouTube channel HERE. UPDATE: SEE HERE.
###
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta (formerly Asian American Legal Advocacy Center or AALAC) is the first nonprofit legal center dedicated to the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in the Southeast. We were formed in the Spring of 2010 by and for Asian Americans. We work in four major program areas: public policy; civic engagement; leadership development; and legal services. You can read more about us at www.advancingjustice-atlanta.org.
As we noted HERE, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp ( Capitol office phone 404-656-2881 ) is producing foreign language videos to assist non-English speakers in voter registration. Kemp has released four new video tutorials on voter registration and absentee balloting – in English, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese. See HERE for the entire taxpayer-funded video collection.
KEMP UNVEILS FIRST OF FOUR NEW MULTI-LANGUAGE ELECTION VIDEOS
ATLANTA, GA – Today Secretary of State Brian Kemp unveiled the first of four new video tutorials in English, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese on voter registration, absentee voting by mail, advance in-person voting, and Election Day voting. Kemp encourages Georgians to take advantage of these tutorials with only seven days left until the voter registration deadline and absentee voting by mail already underway for the November General Election.
“I want every eligible Georgian to have the information they need to take part in the electoral process,” stated Secretary Kemp. “These new resources will help voters who are non-English speakers know how to register to vote and prepare to cast their ballot.”
Secretary Kemp initiated this project to ensure every Georgian is informed on Election Day. Individuals can view the voter registration tutorials by visiting Secretary Kemp’s YouTube channel or the Elections Division’s website. All four tutorials will be available to Georgians by week’s end. Kemp will also work with minority advocacy groups to promote the videos in various communities across the state.
“In the Secretary of State’s office, we are dedicated to ensuring every Georgian has the opportunity to register to vote and allow their voice to be heard at the polls,” said Kemp.
Several important dates are fast approaching for eligible Georgian citizens who want to vote in the General Election on November 8, 2016.
The deadline to register to vote or update voter information is October 11, 2016. Georgia citizens can submit an electronic voter registration application using their Georgia driver’s license number or state-issued identification card number on several platforms: Online Voter Registration (OLVR), the free “GA SOS” mobile app for Apple and Android devices, and the recently announced “2VOTE” text messaging pilot project. Individuals can also mail in hard-copy voter registration applications to their county registrar to register to vote by the deadline.
“It has never been easier to register to vote in our state,” said Kemp. “For the first time in Georgia, voters can register to vote or update their information online, via text, or by using the office’s smartphone app.”
By October 11, voters should verify their voting information and, if necessary, update their record. The “My Voter Page” is a great resource to check your voter status, update your personal record, and view individualized voting information to prepare for November.
Absentee voting by mail began on September 20. As of today, 14,729 mail-in absentee ballots have been cast for races on the ballot this November. Advance in-person voting begins on October 17. Georgia law also requires the polls to be open on Saturday, October 29 in all 159 counties for Georgians to vote in the November contests.
In-person voting occurs on electronic voting equipment in Georgia. If you wish to cast a paper ballot, you must request an absentee ballot by November 4.
Georgia is not a “covered jurisdiction” under the federal Voting Rights Act to offer election information in other languages. Ballots and related election materials are printed in English.
Currently, there are over 6.5 million registered voters in the Peach State.
Brian Kemp has been Secretary of State since January 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting secure, accessible, and fair elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities, charities, and professional license holders.
For more information about the office, visit our website at www.sos.ga.gov. Follow Secretary Kemp for agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
