CA VRA of 2026 — California Democracy Partnership

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The legislation to protect and preserve California’s democracy comes at a time of escalating federal attacks on voting rights and local threats to election integrity.

The California Voting Rights Act of 2026, also known as the CVRA of 2026, will stop discriminatory practices, challenge voter suppression, expand language access, tackle vote dilution, and give voters a direct means of fighting back when people in power attempt to silence their voices.

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What They're Saying

“We cannot stand by while Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress attempt to dismantle our democracy piece by piece. I’m proud to author the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 to preserve democracy in California. We must never allow the suppression or dilution of the votes of historically disenfranchised communities or discrimination against limited English proficiency voters. The CVRA of 2026 will bolster defenses against voter suppression and improve access to the ballot by ensuring more California voters can access election materials in their native languages. We have to act against the chaos emanating from the White House and protect the essential right of California voters to choose their leaders at the ballot box."

Senator Sabrina Cervantes

"At a time of growing attacks on our elections and continued erosion of federal voting rights protections, California cannot afford to leave voters exposed. We must continue to lead by protecting the freedom to vote and removing barriers to the ballot. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 is critical legislation to establish strong state-law safeguards and help ensure every community has a full and equal opportunity to participate."

Dora Rose, Deputy Director of the League of Women Voters of California

"Voting is under attack across the country by those seeking to clear the path for rolling back decades of anti‑discrimination law, to replace lawful immigration policy with brute‑force enforcement, and to recast political dissent as disloyalty and treason. And that is why the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 is essential. California must act now as the efforts to make voting harder and to limit remedies for the denial of the right to vote are only accelerating."

Hector Villagra, Vice President of Policy Advocacy and Community Education, MALDEF – Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

“California has a long record of defending the right to vote, but new threats demand bold action. As protections erode at the federal level and new, increasingly creative attacks take hold locally, the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 equips voters and the Attorney General with the tools to confront these challenges and gives courts clear direction to protect every Californian’s right to participate in our democracy.”

Julia A. Gomez, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California

"As threats to free and fair elections worsen in California and nationally, working Californians are united in their call for legislative action to protect our democracy and increase election integrity – from more inclusive language resources to ensuring our democracy in California is protected and strengthened. Through the California Democracy Partnership, SEIU California and our 750,000 members are committed to standing with Senator Cervantes in the fight to ensure working people have our voices heard and are grateful for her partnership on the California Voting Rights Act of 2026."

Arnulfo De La Cruz, President of SEIU Local 2015 and SEIU California Executive Board Member

"California has always led in protecting the right to vote and ensuring that democracy is free and fair. As the federal government and judiciary assault voting rights nationwide, Senator Cervantes is now leading charge to ensure that California voters are protected against voter suppression and attempts to interfere with the right to vote. The UCLA Voting Rights Project, along with the California Democracy Partnership, is proud to work with Senator Cervantes toward enacting a modernized California Voting Rights Act and protecting the right to vote for all Californians."

Sonni Waknin, Senior Staff Attorney, UCLA Voting Rights Project

"The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 provides expanded protections for our democracy at a time when voters are facing ongoing attacks from authoritarian federal politicians that are designed to restrict our rights and undermine trust in our elections. These landmark bills increases voter protections, supports local election officials, and defends our states' democracy from bad actors."

Darius Kemp, California Common Cause Executive Director