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ARLINGTON, VA - The overwhelming 3:1 majority of Arizona voters who voted Tuesday to designate English as the official state language fuels a growing national trend says ProEnglish, an Arlington-Va.-based national organization. "Arizona is now the 28th state with English as its official language. The election confirms a Zogby International poll we commissioned last March that found 84 percent of American voters support making English the official language of the United States," says Executive Director K.C. McAlpin.

"Arizona - a politically bipartisan state with a Democratic governor and two Republican U.S. senators - now specifies that no one has the right to government services in a language other than English," McAlpin said. The tally, with 99 percent counted, totaled 846,650 "yes" votes and 294,590 "no."

The 2006 vote shows a dramatic increase in public support for official English since 1988 when Arizona voters passed Proposition 106, an official English initiative by a scant 50-49 percent margin. That initiative, which was worded differently, was ultimately struck down by the courts. McAlpin said he was confident that the new law addressed the issues involved in the court ruling and would be upheld.

"English is essential to the promise of equal opportunity in America," McAlpin said. "Learning English enables immigrants to assimilate into American society, where they can find well-paying jobs and pursue the American dream."

"English is our national language. It's time for Congress to follow the example of Arizona and twenty-seven other states and declare English the official language of the United States," McAlpin added.

Click here for information on official English in Arizona.