Following the 2020 census and 2022 redistricting, precincts in Chicago decreased from 2,069 to 1,291 precincts during the 2024 election, resulting in a net 38% reduction in precincts.
Our latest report Strengthening Democracy: Closing the Gap – Advancing Language Access in Chicago’s Evolving Electoral Landscape, examines how language barriers continue to shape civic participation for South Asian voters in Chicago. Building on SAAPRI’s previous research, this follow-up analysis examines the availability of bilingual poll workers, the impact of the 2022 precinct consolidation, and persistent gaps in language assistance across the city using updated demographic and precinct-level data.
Beyond documenting gaps in language assistance, the report introduces a replicable framework for assessing language access needs in jurisdictions where disaggregated data is limited. By estimating South Asian Voting Eligible Population (VEP) and integrating it with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) data, this report translates demographic analysis into concrete, precinct-level recommendations for policymakers, advocates and election administrators.
Download the full report below:
Explore the Data Through Our Interactive Map
Precinct-Level Interactive Map:
Visit the interactive map on SAAPRI’s GitHub to explore precinct-level details on South Asian populations and language access.
https://saapri.github.io/Chicago-Language-Assistance-Expansion/LAReport-Map.html
Ward Level Interactive Map:
Visit the interactive map on SAAPRI’s GitHub to explore ward-level details on South Asian populations and language access.
https://saapri.github.io/Chicago-Language-Assistance-Expansion/LAReport-WardMap.html
Datasets: To request the full datasets in CSV format, please email your request to anushka@saapri.org or saapri@saapri.org