Constituent Concerns + Voter Blocks: How Language Barriers Impact Voter Turnout in Queens
Analyzing the Roles of Zohran Mamdani, Eric Adams, and Andrew Cuomo in Supporting Multilingual Democracy
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Queens, New York, stands as a microcosm of global diversity, where language barriers profoundly influence civic engagement and voter turnout. As one of the most linguistically varied urban areas worldwide, these barriers intersect with translation access, outreach efforts, and civic education, often disenfranchising immigrant communities. This analysis draws on the records of key figures like Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who have shaped policies on multilingual engagement and inclusive democracy amid rising anti-immigrant sentiments.
Demographic and Linguistic Overview of Queens
Queens is renowned as the most linguistically diverse county in the United States, with residents speaking over 138 languages, and some estimates suggesting up to 800 across New York City. According to U.S. Census data from 2023-2024, approximately 48% of Queens' 2.3 million residents are foreign-born, contributing to its vibrant mosaic. Key language groups include Spanish (spoken by about 28% of the population), Mandarin and other Chinese dialects (over 15%), Bengali (significant in areas like Jackson Heights), Korean, Haitian Creole, Urdu, and Punjabi. Limited English proficiency (LEP) affects roughly 25-30% of residents, with higher rates among Asian and Latin American immigrants—over 50% in some South Asian communities.
This diversity correlates with lower voter participation in immigrant-heavy districts. For instance, in neighborhoods like Elmhurst and Flushing, where LEP rates exceed 40%, voter turnout in the 2021 mayoral election hovered around 20-30%, compared to the citywide average of 38%. Recent 2024-2025 data from the NYC Campaign Finance Board shows persistent gaps, exacerbated by economic pressures and fear of deportation under national policies. In the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, turnout in Queens' immigrant districts remained below 25%, highlighting how language isolation deters registration and voting.
Translation Access and Voting Materials
Federal law, particularly Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, mandates language assistance in jurisdictions where 5% or more of voting-age citizens are LEP in covered languages. In NYC, this includes Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Bengali in Queens, requiring translated ballots, notices, and poll worker assistance. The NYC Board of Elections (BOE) complies by providing multilingual ballots and interpreters, but effectiveness is mixed. A 2023 report noted delays in translations and inadequate poll site signage, leading to lawsuits from groups like the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund over Indo-Caribbean voter access in Richmond Hill.
State and city agencies have expanded services, but gaps persist. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration advanced multilingual access through Executive Order 26 (2011), mandating state agencies to offer translations in top languages, and the Office of New Americans, which provided civic resources in over 20 languages. Mayor Eric Adams has maintained these, investing $121 million in 2025 for immigrant legal services, including election-related aid. Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, representing diverse Astoria and Jackson Heights, has championed expansions, sponsoring bills for broader absentee ballot translations and criticizing BOE for resisting full compliance during the 2025 primary.
Outreach Efforts and Political Engagement
Outreach to LEP communities varies by leader. Mamdani, a Ugandan-born immigrant advocate, excels in multilingual organizing, producing Bengali, Urdu, and Spanish campaign materials and partnering with community groups in Jackson Heights. His 2025 mayoral campaign, which surged to victory with 56% of the vote, emphasized immigrant rights, earning endorsements from the New York Immigration Coalition and Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM). Posts on X highlight his commitment to "protecting immigrant communities" and ranked-choice voting education in native languages.
Adams, as mayor, has prioritized citywide outreach, allocating $76 million in 2025 for free immigration legal services and multilingual voter campaigns via the Civic Engagement Commission. However, critics note his administration's collaboration with federal immigration enforcement has alienated some LEP groups, though he expanded Safe Havens for homeless outreach, benefiting immigrants.
Cuomo's governorship focused on systemic access, establishing the Office of New Americans in 2013 for multilingual civic resources and issuing orders prohibiting state inquiries into immigration status. His record included $650 million for street homelessness aid, indirectly supporting LEP voters, but was critiqued for neglecting grassroots multilingual efforts during elections.
Civic Education and Barriers to Understanding the Process
Access to voting materials differs from comprehension of democratic processes. LEP voters often struggle with concepts like ranked-choice voting (RCV), implemented in NYC since 2021, voter ID rules, or municipal office roles. A 2023 NYU Furman Center study found that in Queens' LEP-heavy areas, unfamiliarity with RCV led to higher ballot invalidation rates—up to 5% versus 1% citywide.
Mamdani has proposed funding native-language civic literacy programs, partnering with local orgs for workshops on RCV. Adams' administration launched a $2 million "Get Out the Vote" campaign in 2023, targeting LEP voters with multilingual RCV explanations. Cuomo expanded early voting and absentee access in 2021, but his reforms lacked robust civic education components for immigrants.
Community Voices and Potential Solutions
Grassroots organizations bridge gaps: Mekong NYC offers Khmer and Vietnamese voter education in Little Mekong; DRUM conducts Urdu and Hindi workshops in Jackson Heights, fighting voter suppression; Chhaya CDC provides Bengali and Punjabi civic engagement in Richmond Hill, registering thousands. Mamdani has endorsements from DRUM and Chhaya, while Adams partners with them for legal aid. Cuomo collaborated via the Office of New Americans.
Voter-led solutions include tech apps like multilingual voting guides and community-led in-person sessions. In Queens, initiatives like DRUM's "41 Days of Action" use digital tools for real-time translation, and partnerships with the BOE for poll worker training in native languages.
In closing, how can we ensure equitable participation when language divides deepen? Public officials bear responsibility not just for outreach, but for fostering understanding and empowerment across linguistic lines, lest democracy remain inaccessible to those who enrich our city.
Stay tuned for more updates on the election, and follow KIRU (@highaski) and The Industry Leader (@theindustrylead) on X (formerly Twitter).
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