Poll Shows Strong Support for Official English Legislation in Delaware

Statewide survey finds 77 percent of residents in support of official English policy

77 percent of likely voters in Delaware want English to be made the official language of the state, according to a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. The survey found that the overwhelming majority of Delaware residents want the state to conduct business in English, including strong majorities within each political party and each section of the state. The survey of 625 likely voters was conducted Sept. 21-25, 2006 and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

“While Delaware may not be a traditional immigrant state, it has become a popular place for many newcomers to the United States,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “These recent arrivals have contributed to the Delaware’s economy, but they have also raised questions about the state’s role in incorporating immigrants into society. As the state grapples with the manner in which to help immigrants assimilate into the state, it is clear that Delaware’s residents want to see a focus on English.”

In June, the Delaware House of Representatives passed H.R. 79, a resolution that declared English the official language of Delaware. However the Senate did not act on the effort before the end of the session. Official English bills have passed at least one chamber of the Delaware legislature in both 1994 and 1997, with the former bill passing both the House and Senate only to be vetoed by the governor.

Making English the official language of a state calls upon the government to conduct business in English and limit governmental multilingualism to common-sense exceptions such as health care, public safety, judicial proceedings and tourism. To date, 27 states have English as their official language, and H.R. 997, Congressional legislation promoting this policy at the federal level, has become one of the most widely supported bills in the 109th Congress.

“According to the U.S. Census, nearly 1-in-15 new mothers in Delaware between 2000 and 2003 were limited English proficient,” added Mujica. “We must turn our focus toward helping these individuals learn English just as we would for their children. Otherwise, there will be a significant portion of the population that cannot help their children get into college, cannot attend a school board meeting, and cannot play a role in the American success story. I look forward to working with Delaware legislators once again in 2007 to develop an official English policy for the First State.”

U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.