With 400K Ga. Latino voters in play, bilingual ‘guardians’ step in where voting machines fall short

With 400K Ga. Latino voters in play, bilingual ‘guardians’ step in where voting machines fall short

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — More than 40 trained bilingual volunteers are fanning out across polling sites in Gwinnett, DeKalb and Clayton counties to assist voters facing language barriers and administrative hurdles during Georgia’s early voting period.

The mobilization by immigrant advocacy organization We Are CASA comes as Georgia Secretary of State election data show the state’s Latino electorate has climbed to more than 400,000 registered voters, making up over 4% of the statewide total. Nearly one-third of those voters are under age 30.

Known as “poll guardians,” the volunteers are stationed outside selected polling places to greet voters as they arrive, monitor lines and document potential voting irregularities.

“I think that it’s good to see people that look like you being there, and I think that will make them more comfortable, also speaking their language,” said Carliana Harris, a We Are CASA member.

Organizers said their presence is also designed to address community anxieties and rumors regarding potential law enforcement or immigration enforcement activity near polling locations.

“Anything that’s happening at the poll locations where it’s putting people off, that’s intimidating, that it’s creating a barrier of access for people to feel welcomed and comfortable to be able to cast their vote,” said Alberto Feregrino, organizing director for We Are CASA Georgia.

Under Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act, Gwinnett County is the only county in Georgia legally mandated to provide full Spanish-language ballots and assistance directly on touchscreen voting machines.

In neighboring DeKalb and Clayton counties, voting machines remain English-only, leaving voters with limited English proficiency to rely on translated paper sample guides or bring an assistant into the booth.

Feregrino said many naturalized citizens are unaware that Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act guarantees every voter the legal right to bring an interpreter of their choice into the booth to help translate their ballot.

“It was their first time voting as a naturalized citizen,” Feregrino said of an experience assisting a voter. “And I was able to go in, support them, and just translate, interpret their ballot for them. And they were able to cast their vote.”

The organization pointed to past efforts in York County, Pennsylvania, where real-time documentation by poll guardians led to a landmark legal settlement expanding bilingual ballot access across dozens of precincts.

In-person early voting across Georgia continues through Friday, Oct. 30. Voters can verify their registration and assigned precinct on the state’s My Voter Page.

We Are CASA is scheduled to host a “Party at the Polls” festival in Gwinnett County this weekend to drive voter turnout and offer on-site voter education ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.