Bengali only Indian language on New York’s ballot papers

Micheal J. Ryan, Executive Director of New York City’s Board of Elections, highlighted the effort to serve these communities, emphasising that voting accessibility extends beyond symbolism.

With just one day left until the US presidential elections, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump are locked in a fierce, neck-and-neck race. In preparation for the big day, New York, known for its vibrant, multicultural population, has included four additional languages on its ballot papers alongside English. Among them, Bengali stands out as the only Indian language, joining Chinese, Spanish, and Korean.

Subhshesh, a Times Square sales agent with Bengali roots, expressed his happiness about the inclusion. He noted that his father, who lives in Queens, will benefit from this linguistic support. “People like me know English, but many in our community feel more comfortable with their native language. This will definitely help at the polling station. I’m sure my father will appreciate seeing a Bengali ballot,” said Subhshesh.