[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 28, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 28CFR55.12]

[Page 122]
 
                    TITLE 28--JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
 
              CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Continued)
 
PART 55--IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT REGARDING LANGUAGE MINORITY GROUPS--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart C--Determining the Exact Language
 
Sec. 55.12  Language used for written material.

    (a) Language minority groups having more than one language. Some 
language minority groups, for example, Filipino Americans, have more 
than one language other than English. A jurisdiction required to provide 
election materials in the language of such a group need not provide 
materials in more than one language other than English. The Attorney 
General will consider whether the language that is used for election 
materials is the one most widely used by the jurisdiction's voting-age 
citizens who are members of the language minority group.
    (b) Languages with more than one written form. Some languages, for 
example, Japanese, have more than one written form. A jurisdiction 
required to provide election materials in such a language need not 
provide more than one version. The Attorney General will consider 
whether the particular version of the language that is used for election 
materials is the one most widely used by the jurisdiction's voting-age 
citizens who are members of the language minority group.
    (c) Unwritten languages. Many of the languages used by language 
minority groups, for example, by some American Indians and Alaskan 
Natives, are unwritten. With respect to any such language, only oral 
assistance and publicity are required. Even though a written form for a 
language may exist, a language may be considered unwritten if it is not 
commonly used in a written form. It is the responsibility of the covered 
jurisdiction to determine whether a language should be considered 
written or unwritten.