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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- An increase in Spanish-speaking residents could trigger new ballot requirements in 16 Colorado counties.

Under provisions of the Voting Rights Act, bilingual ballots are required in counties where more than five percent of the voting population does not speak English.

Ten counties in Colorado already provide dual language ballots, including Denver.

According to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Wayne Williams, election material in the county will not be in English and Spanish, at least not anytime soon.

"If the Hi spanic population keeps growing like it has," Williams said, "we could be using bilingual ballots soon."

The Colorado Secretary of State's Office said there is a chance the state could be ordered to provide dual language ballots. That is stirring up mixed reactions among southern Colorado voters.

"I think it is necessary because there are a lot of Spanish-speaking people in our community," Muriel Tilton, an El Paso County resident and language teacher, said.

Sharon Simpson-Dogon, another language teacher in El Paso County, disagrees.

"When you come to this country, if you want to vote, then you need to speak the 'langua-franca' which is English," she said.

Despite a difference of opinion among voters, bilingual ballots could soon be issued in El Paso County.

"Whether it is right or wrong, it is not our decision," El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark said. "That decision has already been made. It is a mandate from the federal level that we will have to comply with."

Yet those who disagree with the requirement of bilingual ballots think voter should have to comply with understanding the English language.

"I am a language teacher, I love foreign languages and I love second languages," Simpson-Dogon said. "But I think if we want to be a united nation we need to speak a language in common."

When dual language ballots are required, it could lead to additional costs for El Paso County.

"We don't know how much, if there are additional costs or not," Clark said. "If so, then we'll have to budget that into our budget."

If it came down to it, some voters said they would be willing to pitch in to help cover the cost.

"I am a tax payer and I'd be willing to pay [for bilingual ballots]," Tilton said.

According to a 2006 memorandum written by Colorado Legislative Council staff, it cost $9,200 to translate ballot text into Spanish for the eight counties that used bilingual ballots during the 2004 elections.

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