State elections officials acknolwedge they got complaints in the last month about Spanish language voter registration forms that ask whether a potential voter is a "citizen of North America" rather than a U.S. citizen.
Robert Brehm, a state elections boards spokeman, said the offending forms that were printed between 2003 and 2007 and may still be in circulation in some places even though the forms were changed last year. He said the term "norteamericano is" can be used in translation as an American citizen but concedes the use of a U.S. citizen is more precise.
The first question on those forms asks in Spanish "Are you a citizen of North America?" and tells potential voters to go no further if the answer is no. But Brehm emphasized at the bottom of the form that those registering to vote are also asked to sign their names attesting that they are citizens of the United States. In light of the complaints, Brehm said state election officials have sent a new batch of forms to both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
But Republican Assembly candidate John Bugler called the mistake "very purposeful," and aimed at allowing non-citizens to vote. And he added bercause of the discrepancy at the top and bottom of the form, "No judge in the country would ever find anyone guilty."
Rick Brand