New Report Examines How Two Michigan Cities Expanded Voting Access for Arabic Speakers

Washington, D.C. – A new case study released by Dēmos examines the Arabic-language voting access initiatives in Michigan that have played a critical role in expanding ballot language options for limited-English-proficient (LEP) voters who fall outside the federal Voting Rights Act’s language-assistance requirements. 

The report, Language Access and Local Voting Rights: A Case Study of Arabic Language Assistance in Michigan Communities, examines how advocates in Dearborn and Hamtramck, two cities with some of the nation’s largest Arab American populations, expanded protections and secured translated ballots for Arabic speakers. 

Michigan is home to the second largest Arab American population in the United States, with data from the 2026 analysis by the Arab American Institute estimating the population to be close to 400,000 people. In Dearborn, approximately 50 percent of residents speak Arabic, and in Wayne County, the LEP population among Arabic speakers is estimated to be around 45 percent.

In 2022, tens of thousands of LEP voters fell outside of the federal VRA’s reach because of the law’s strict population thresholds and  its limited definitions of “language minorities” who are eligible for assistance. Both cities subsequently adopted resolutions providing Arabic-language election materials after years of community advocacy, resolutions introduced by city council members, and after a challenge by the Wayne County clerk was resolved by the secretary of state.

As we witness the erosion of democratic norms and the limitation of the Voting Rights Act in real-time, it’s imperative that we identify the key places to push policies that reduce voter suppression.

“As we witness the erosion of democratic norms and the limitation of the Voting Rights Act in real-time, it’s imperative that we identify the key places to push policies that reduce voter suppression,” says Angelo Ancheta, Senior Research and Policy Counsel at Dēmos. “The expansion of language access in Michigan was a huge win in ensuring every eligible voter can participate elections, and at this pivotal time, it’s important to analyze why these initiatives worked and what we can do to continue to strengthen access for those being kept out of our democracy.” 

The case study finds that these initiatives offer lessons for communities across the state and country seeking to address gaps in federal voting protections, particularly where growing language-minority populations are not covered by federal law. This ultimately can be used a as a case study to expand democratic participation in communities across the U.S.

The full case study is available here.

###

Dēmos is a non-profit public policy organization working to build a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy and economy. We work hand in hand to build power with and for Black and brown communities, forging strategic alliances with grassroots and state-based organizations.