Many voters in this state could benefit from a ballot in Arabic, but the law isn’t on their side

Many voters in this state could benefit from a ballot in Arabic, but the law isn’t on their side

When Lama Ali Ahmad became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2021, she was eager to become a voter, too.

In Lebanon, where she’s from, elections were often derailed by crises. But here, she had faith in the process. She registered and voted in a municipal election the same day. That night, she gathered her family at her Dearborn home for a special dinner of steak, chicken, and tabbouleh, and told them how good it felt to finally be heard.

“That was the moment where I really felt that I am an American citizen,” she said.

Last year, she celebrated another civic triumph: Voting on a ballot printed in Arabic, her first language.

The experience wasn’t perfect, said Ali Ahmad, who also speaks Englis