§ 1-03. Interpreters.
RCNY § 1-03.
(a)Standards of conduct. Interpreters must comply with the following standards of conduct: (1) Comply with all lawful orders from staff of the board of elections, including, but not limited to, making an oath or signing an affirmation as required by section 8-306 of the New York state election law; (2) Do not engage in electioneering in the polling place, within one hundred feet of the polling place, or while assisting voters telephonically; (3) Do not place a mark on any ballot, or do any other act in connection with a ballot with the intent that it may be identified as a ballot cast by a particular voter; (4) Do not directly or indirectly reveal to any person the name of any particular candidate, party, ticket, or ballot question voted for by a voter; (5) Do not directly or indirectly reveal to any person or make public any aggregate totals for any particular candidate, party, ticket, or ballot question voted for by a voter; (6) Display identification provided by the Commission while performing duties under the program; (7) Comply with all applicable laws, including articles 8 and 17 of the New York state election law; and (8) Comply with the following ethical standards for professional interpreters adapted from the National Council on Healthcare Interpreter Certification's code of ethics for healthcare interpreters: (i) Confidentiality. The interpreter will regard all information obtained during the performance of their professional duties as confidential.
(ii)Impartiality. The interpreter will perform their duties in an impartial way, refraining from advising, counseling, or conveying personal biases or beliefs.
(iii)Accuracy. The interpreter will strive to relay all information accurately in the course of their professional duties, preserving the spirit of the original message, taking into consideration its cultural context.
(iv)Professionalism. The interpreter will at all times act in a professional and ethical manner, maintaining the boundaries of the professional role, and abstaining from personal involvement.
(v)Respect. The interpreter will at all times treat persons served with dignity, courtesy and respect.
(b)Minimum qualifications. The commission shall ensure all interpreters have written and spoken fluency in English and the language to be served.
(c)Training requirements. The commission shall ensure that all interpreters receive at least one training prior to each election event. Such training must, at a minimum, include: (1) Ethical guidance for interpreters that will include the standards of conduct set forth in subdivision a of this section; (2) A process for tracking the number of voters the interpreters served; and (3) A protocol for collecting and reporting public complaints regarding the program.
(d)Additional services. If the commission engages in partnerships with other city agencies pursuant to paragraph 5 of subdivision b of Section 3202 of the Charter to provide language assistance services to voters outside polling places, including but not limited to services for absentee voters, such services must substantially comply with the provisions of this chapter. (Added City Record 8/19/2020, eff. 9/18/2020)
