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A growing democracy collaboration co-chaired by SEIU and Catalyst California, that includes ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, California Black Power Network, California Common Cause, California Environmental Voters, MALDEF, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the UCLA Voting Rights Project*

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Our partners include: AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund, ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, California Black Power Network, California Common Cause, California Environmental Voters Education Fund, California Native Vote Project, Catalyst California, CHIRLA, League of Women Voters of California, Legal Defense Fund, MALDEF, Inland Empire United Education Fund, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, Power California, SEIU CA and the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

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<h1 style="text-align: center;">Resources</h1><h5>Fact SheetS (Click to Download)</h5><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lSOkd3Mo9SRAeg2TnrbK9RzjCcGaKOWT/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SB 1164 (Cervantes)</a> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eizLVVpONVnDan5Rt-N0FiTLOylrNJ6H/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">SB 1360 (Cervantes)</a><h5>Explainers (Click to Download)</h5><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hUnKj1KPIIrIy9Vftwu6TMI2FfjX_DEO/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">How the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Fights Voter Suppression</a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VZcm1QXY0LlyolWIHJgIoboIS-sjY5rt/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">How Private Enforcement Under the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Protects Voters</a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f90cPINRzcwN1RduGk8AMn_3yDHrCZt6/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">How the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Expands Language Access</a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H690naUxxpSLKEUASUXrCizr6mdo3fBU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">How Preclearance Under the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Protects Voters</a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yRV2QRYCIjmBttnf6yW-tlqBnxpTwNeY/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">How the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Fights Vote Dilution</a><h5>You can learn more about voter suppression by watching this short video</h5><span class="image video image-center" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvZieBoIgbk?si=o9ihrvOzx92Yimwh&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/02e77338-7c57-4654-8303-d3cbf06c2395/02e77338-7c57-4654-8303-d3cbf06c2395.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=345%2C0%2C2107%2C1244&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvZieBoIgbk?si=o9ihrvOzx92Yimwh&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="25" src="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/02e77338-7c57-4654-8303-d3cbf06c2395/02e77338-7c57-4654-8303-d3cbf06c2395.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=345%2C0%2C2107%2C1244&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvZieBoIgbk?si=o9ihrvOzx92Yimwh&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvZieBoIgbk?si=o9ihrvOzx92Yimwh&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><h5>You can learn more about vote dilution by watching this short video</h5><span class="image video image-center" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/7g7Fv-LahME?si=Q-SMPao3_pKgnukr&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/794d8e12-1cd1-40f1-9910-e6beb5ac744e/794d8e12-1cd1-40f1-9910-e6beb5ac744e.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2240%2C1298&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/7g7Fv-LahME?si=Q-SMPao3_pKgnukr&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="25" src="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/794d8e12-1cd1-40f1-9910-e6beb5ac744e/794d8e12-1cd1-40f1-9910-e6beb5ac744e.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2240%2C1298&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/7g7Fv-LahME?si=Q-SMPao3_pKgnukr&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/7g7Fv-LahME?si=Q-SMPao3_pKgnukr&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><h5>You can learn more about preclearance by watching this short video</h5><span class="image video image-center" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-WqXJDveMY?si=Qg_KbFLKsrw7W5vu&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/bffdaad6-c498-4f3f-b612-4a6497c62858/bffdaad6-c498-4f3f-b612-4a6497c62858.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2216%2C1432&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-WqXJDveMY?si=Qg_KbFLKsrw7W5vu&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="25" src="https://run.imgix.net/fa2c840c-6d5c-4699-a489-a715b735f9f6/bffdaad6-c498-4f3f-b612-4a6497c62858/bffdaad6-c498-4f3f-b612-4a6497c62858.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2216%2C1432&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-WqXJDveMY?si=Qg_KbFLKsrw7W5vu&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-WqXJDveMY?si=Qg_KbFLKsrw7W5vu&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">

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We are at an unprecedented juncture in our country’s history where threats to our democracy are greater than ever. As the 2026 midterm elections rapidly approach, it is critical that we take collective action to address the real threats of voter intimidation, election subversion, historically low voter turnout, and the assault on voting rights by the federal administration and the Supreme Court.

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Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home.We envision a society in which we, the people, have meaningful and equitable involvement in the political decisions and policies that affect our lives. This society will be just, fair, and inclusive, with respect for liberty, equal access, decency, human rights, and the civil rights guaranteed by the state and federal Constitutions.

THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRACY PARTNERSHIP is anchored in the belief that our democracy should be for the people and by the people. This coalition is an emerging partnership of racial justice, civil rights, labor, and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home.Interested in joining the California Democracy Partnership? Fill out this form today.

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The Democracy Partnership seeks to strengthen California’s democracy in 2026 and beyond to make sure every vote in the state is counted and ensure all eligible voters can easily make their voices heard.

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Senator Sabrina Cervantes

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

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

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

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

Sonni Waknin, Senior Staff Attorney, UCLA Voting Rights Project

Darius Kemp, California Common Cause Executive Director

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READ<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lSOkd3Mo9SRAeg2TnrbK9RzjCcGaKOWT/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SB 1164 (Cervantes)</a> <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1360" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">SB 1360 (Cervantes)</a>DOWNLOAD:<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x8zNpe81JIljL92d-poeB_TVtIzICTTH/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">SB 1164 FACT SHEET</a><a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/sb-1164-fact-sheet-04.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eizLVVpONVnDan5Rt-N0FiTLOylrNJ6H/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">SB 1360 FACT SHEET</a>

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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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Codify Section 203 of the VRA’s requirement to provide in-language votable ballots and all other election materials to groups that meet a certain threshold in a county.

Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance requirements under state law

Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.

Prohibit Vote Dilution

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, today condemned President Donald Trump’s illegal attacks on mail-in voting via executive order.The California Democracy Partnership released the following statement from Darius L. Kemp, MPA, Executive Director of California Common Cause:“Trump’s executive order is patently illegal and an affront to our democratic values, seeking to disenfranchise voters of color, low wage workers, and senior citizens. The Constitution is clear that the power to administer elections falls to states and Congress, not the President. The California Democracy Partnership stands in support of Attorney General Bonta and civil rights organizations across California who will rightfully take this illegal executive order to court to preserve free and fair elections in this country.“It is also clear that Trump's attacks on our democracy will only continue. The legislature must unite now behind critical investments in election infrastructure and voter education. This includes mobilizing trusted community messengers to counter the misinformation and erosion of confidence Trump's attacks are designed to create. Legislators must also pass the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 to strengthen our democracy against attacks that limit voters' access to the ballot box and sow confusion in an attempt to silence voices in our democracy." Background:Voting by mail has been integral to our democracy since the 19th century. During World War II, as American soldiers fought to preserve democratic institutions abroad, they exercised their rights to vote in US elections via the mail. And the 2009 MOVE Act further enshrined access to mail voting which cannot be undone by executive order. Since September 2021, all eligible Californians have received mail ballots for elections and in the 2024 general election, more than 80% of ballots returned were mail ballots. ###Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and Partnership members <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, today condemned President Donald Trump’s illegal attacks on mail-in voting via executive order.

CA Democracy Partnership Condemns Trump’s Illegal Threats to Mail-In Voting

Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (SB 1164 and SB 1360, Cervantes), advanced out of the Assembly Elections Committee with overwhelming support. The CVRA of 26 will enshrine nation-leading voting rights protections into state law and strengthen California’s democracy. SB 1164 will give all voters an equal opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process without interference and SB 1360 will guarantee access to the ballot for millions of voters. “In the face of unrelenting federal attacks on our democracy, California has mounted our own defense to protect the rights of California voters. The CVRA of 2026 will combat voter suppression, prevent discrimination and give power to voters to defend their right to cast a ballot. Thank you to my colleagues in the Assembly for standing with voters by supporting the California Voting Rights Act of 2026. As we head toward November elections, it is essential that we protect our democracy and empower people to make their voices heard,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), author of the CVRA of 2026. The CVRA of 2026 will:<ul><li>Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.</li><li>Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.&nbsp;</li><li>Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.&nbsp;</li><li>Apply the Law to Protect Voters: Instruct courts to interpret laws in favor of the right to vote.&nbsp;</li><li>Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance requirements under state law: Codify Section 203 of the VRA’s requirement to provide in-language votable ballots and all other election materials to groups that meet a certain threshold in a county.</li><li>Expand upon current Section 203 language coverage: Lower Section 203’s numerical threshold for assistance from 10K to 5K of adult citizens in a county, and expand upon Section 203’s language minority categories to include all language groups.</li><li>Streamline and clarify the steps for language groups to receive assistance in voting: Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.&nbsp; </li></ul>“As the state makes needed investments in voter education, it is critically important that our legislators pair money with actions that safeguard our democracy. Today, the Assembly Elections Committee did just that. The CVRA of 26 will increase voter access to the ballot and give voters more access to directly defending their votes, two critical defenses against attempted disinformation and election interference by bad actors. We thank the members of the committee for voting today to protect and invest in our democracy and look forward to them continuing to support the bills when they come up for a vote on the Assembly floor,” said Ramla Sahid, Executive Director of the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) and a Steering Committee member of the Partnership. SB 1164 and 1360 now head to Assembly Appropriations. Learn more about the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26">https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26</a> ### Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – Today,the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (SB 1164 and SB 1360, Cervantes), advanced out of the Assembly Elections Committee with overwhelming support. The CVRA of 26 will enshrine nation-leading voting rights protections into state law and strengthen California’s democracy. SB 1164 will give all voters an equal opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process without interference and SB 1360 will guarantee access to the ballot for millions of voters.

California Voting Rights Act of 2026 Clears Legislative Committee

Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.&nbsp;

Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs

Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.&nbsp;

Streamline and clarify the steps for language groups to receive assistance in voting

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Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today applauded Governor Newsom and legislative leadership’s announcement of tens of millions of dollars in new funding secured for voter outreach and protections to combat election disinformation and support voter participation in the November 2026 elections.&nbsp; The California Democracy Partnership released the following statement from Sydney Fang, Policy Director for AAPI ForCE (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment): “Election disinformation is a growing threat and tool of suppression, directly attempting to silence voters of color and voters for whom English isn't their first language. As the US Postal Service actively changes the rules on how and when ballots are delivered and received and the Supreme Court’s pending Watson v. RNC decision threatening changes to ballot deadlines, it is even more important that voters have access to clear information on how and when to vote from people they trust. Over the coming weeks, the Partnership will work with election administrators to ensure that these funds are used to activate one of California’s biggest assets to defend our multi-racial democracy: trusted messengers, deeply enmeshed in our communities, delivering timely and accurate voting information. These trusted messengers provide short term support in election years to county Registrar offices that allow them to reach ALL eligible voters with reliable, accurate information.&nbsp; “The California Democracy Partnership fought for this funding – and California voters won. Thank you to legislative leaders who fought to ensure voters' access to the ballot box is strengthened through funding this proven program in the state’s 2026-27 budget.&nbsp; “Now, California must build on this momentum. Our growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations are fighting to pass the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 because every eligible voter in California deserves unfettered access to the ballot box.&nbsp; “We look forward to partnering with state and local election administrators to swiftly and effectively use these dollars where they will be best utilized to educate voters and protect the vote. We will also continue&nbsp; conversations with legislative budget leaders and the Governor about the possibility of additional investments that will protect and strengthen our democracy leading up to November and beyond.” ### Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today applauded Governor Newsom and legislative leadership’s announcement of tens of millions of dollars in new funding secured for voter outreach and protections to combat election disinformation and support voter participation in the November 2026 elections.&nbsp;

As Federal Policies Threaten to Disenfranchise Voters, California Democracy Partnership Celebrates State Investments in Voter Education and To Protect the Vote

As Threats to Elections Rise, The California Democracy Partnership Joins Senator Cervantes to Introduce The California Voting Rights Act of 2026Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, proudly introduced SB 1164 and SB 1360, The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (CVRA of 2026), with Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). The legislation to protect and preserve California’s democracy comes at a time of escalating federal attacks on voting rights and <a href="http://email.paschalroth.com/c/eJwczjHS2yAQQOHToA4P2l3AFBRpdI8VLAOJfssDxBr79BmnfsX7ckwe0dEicfWeyGMgs9QogSj4XAzsuzMgwYYiWFJiImDEpUUw4AyChRUsmVvJgShz8bkwE6-KzJNHqnz0c9ZbOn-WI9Y5n0PhLwWbgu26rtvBs_3I-HYFW-KjlbM_GivYxjz7W8H2HWmDGlDB1ttL-mhZdDr_PuZbjyq9laIrDz2kfSRrZ402xuidj-OcQ1fpMvRVeepL9J_HeS09_pZSFJnPZ8zO879vxl18lpUF0dm7EPmwIxXr4L4WRxaXGcHl4HBNmKzxLnlvg7cu351JK6NLyyvCvwAAAP__0Mtn0Q">local</a> threats to election integrity. The CVRA of 2026 responds to voter concern over attacks on our democracy, with <a href="http://email.paschalroth.com/c/eJwszs1O6zAQxfGncXa3smfG43jhRaUot1DYdu_4owm0dUgckPr0qMDup3M2_-iCQWRqklPGEBm0JJvR5TCwDW1Ewwmz5uANWaSBwLYxaGgmBxJYImhQoEnucrRE0WcTs_fklSA5-zWM_rKUOu5CuTYXN9Y6rwL3AnoBfSxh3Z1LOV_S4_9dtmu61QcF9Orp8F6Oz4fheHr5F75uEtL1uKf_h48TTGP3OgnoU5yqwH5bZ4HdOvplup0FcNmmKLBTSpNlpYyUVoGSkoClAF7qXLLAri5bEsBr_HOzuLeUsyB5v6918fUnvLohmZiUT4is20Rk7ICUNUOrMpPGpjrgaBlVwKCl4WCMtkZzbFkG5ZFD8-ngOwAA___ibGr-">polling</a> conducted in February of 2026 finding that two-thirds of voters support the state expanding its Voting Rights Act to guarantee that eligible voters are protected from discrimination and suppression.&nbsp;“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,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside).The CVRA of 2026 will:<ul><li>Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.</li><li>Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.&nbsp;</li><li>Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.&nbsp;</li><li>Require Courts to Interpret Laws in Favor of Voters: Direct courts to interpret laws and exercise discretion in favor of broad access and equal participation in the democratic process.&nbsp;</li><li>Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance requirements under state law: Codify Section 203 of the VRA’s requirement to provide in-language votable ballots and all other election materials to groups that meet a certain threshold in a county.</li><li>Expand upon current Section 203 language coverage: Lower Section 203’s numerical threshold for assistance from 10K to 5K of voting age residents in a county, and expand upon Section 203’s language minority categories to include all language groups.</li><li>Streamline and clarify the steps for language groups to receive assistance in voting: Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.&nbsp;</li></ul>“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,” said Arnulfo De La Cruz, President of SEIU Local 2015 and SEIU California Executive Board Member. “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.”A majority of California voters, across party lines, believe that our democracy is under attack or being tested. Protecting and strengthening our democracy is not a partisan issue but an opportunity for California to lead nationally in ensuring every voter has access to the ballot box and the opportunity to have a voice in our representative democracy.“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,” said Hector Villagra, Vice President of Policy Advocacy and Community Education, MALDEF – Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.###

Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, proudly introduced SB 1164 and SB 1360, The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (CVRA of 2026), with Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside).

As Threats to Elections Rise, The California Democracy Partnership Joins Senator Cervantes to Introduce The California Voting Rights Act of 2026

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today responded to the Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map. The ruling eviscerates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and opens the door for states to enact discriminatory maps with impunity, leaving, Black, Latino, and AAPI voters, as well as other voters of color, potentially facing the elimination of districts across the country that have provided fair representation.The California Democracy Partnership released the following statement from Kristin Nimmers, Policy &amp; Campaigns Manager of the Black Power Network:“Today’s decision from the Court threatens to roll back generations of progress in ensuring voting maps represent our communities, and turns a key pillar of the federal Voting Rights Act on its head. In a truly representative democracy, every community has the power to make their voice heard. The ability of voters to challenge discriminatory districts manipulated to drown out people’s voices based on race is a critical safeguard against being silenced.&nbsp;“While we are deeply troubled by the Court’s determination to unravel core tenets of our democracy before our very eyes, we aren’t giving up, we’re fighting back. The California Democracy Partnership unifies labor, civil rights and voting rights organizations behind a new effort to strengthen California’s democracy and empower voters. We are proud to be partnering with Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) to pass the California Voting Rights Act of 2026, bolstering voting protections and upholding our values of inclusive democracy.”&nbsp;###Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today responded to the Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s congressional map.

California Democracy Partnership Responds to Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Louisiana Map and Destroying Key Voting Rights Act Provision

Lower Section 203’s numerical threshold for assistance from 10K to 5K of voting age residents in a county, and expand upon Section 203’s language minority categories to include all language groups.

Expand upon current Section 203 language coverage

Two-Thirds Of Voters Say Democracy is Under Attack Sacramento, CA – Democracy advocates celebrated this week as the Senate Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments passed Senate Bills 1164 and 1360 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). The timely legislative action, sponsored by the California Democracy Partnership, updates the landmark California Voting Rights Act to add new protections against voter discrimination and bolster our democracy which is under threat from unrelenting federal attacks.The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 comes as <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__email.paschalroth.com_c_eJxsjjFuxCAQAF-2DDO06wwK5dUKTxP-5FCyjlF8xjLorPt9dFWa1KPRTI5MzqEfJFoiHAmMc8MWHYScVgp-2DxWzHxRrrwwqUV16JDeJQIhhA4wFscC7AQwQtpCkH8WsgCMqbMzXe0n7Vvj24Poc9br2fTbkvBbOC-2Db7vx556eUr7cAUzp72s9TpKUjC3Xq-2D3gvkT0sZrAwrmLM-5FKV-2DK3Tl1fpf3oP0cfIrnpQ279qr0c3-5Fq8ahfupR5Nn3Xfddvq3YYr7qWlfw57HAmX7HghHGUi8l6M5yxhhCSGcRl6BMwTOsuOgyFkojBRwDyiYZsc8vCK8BsAAP-5F-5Fm2pp-2Dw&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=62dPdaRP2SwqzZgAhJTdkkzk9GCTd7ffwWUSR8q68Lo&amp;m=o8HEhUnt-oFz_yGdac3Wkl0yNL_QrvT8NH45pUP8Cx5TQiQ4qR9ts1hKMe0hVBAL&amp;s=G1PvJk2ZFeo0mua8zvijxFEdeJg3e3Szj5-LDwloa1A&amp;e=">recent polling</a>&nbsp;found that two-thirds of California voters believe our democracy is under attack and voiced overwhelming support for state lawmakers to strengthen voter protections.“We cannot stand by while Donald Trump and his allies attempt to dismantle our democracy piece by piece,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), the author of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026. “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-proficient voters. CVRA 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 must 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.”The CVRA of 2026 will:<ul><li>Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.</li><li>Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.&nbsp;</li><li>Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.&nbsp;</li><li>Require Courts to Interpret Laws in Favor of Voters: Direct courts to interpret laws and exercise discretion in favor of broad access and equal participation in the democratic process.&nbsp;</li><li>Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance requirements under state law:&nbsp;Codify Section 203 of the VRA’s requirement to provide in-language votable ballots and all other election materials to groups that meet a certain threshold in a county.</li><li>Expand upon current Section 203 language coverage:&nbsp;Lower Section 203’s numerical threshold for assistance from 10K to 5K of adult citizens in a county, and expand upon Section 203’s language minority categories to include all language groups.</li><li>Streamline and clarify the steps for language groups to receive assistance in voting: Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.&nbsp;</li></ul>The <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__email.paschalroth.com_c_eJxszMGN7CAMANBqwjECG9vkwOFfpg8w5mekzCYiaKPtfhvYBl7LKogcneUgwknAI7o9I2IJVH3yMXXs1SNgalYJYt96j-2D6dwQP7CBAIkWA14wBla2SxkwAt0V-5Fl1r0c45z7qufHHXmf87oX-5FLfAa4HX8zyrlmafU0fRn6uM-2DWXj3t-5FXeo7-5FC7zcyMf7Ln9QMyfh2lCrcLJNJEbzUZtRgmJeubqZgdvGGBSVvLCK0CbELbHXUJDVfWf4DQAA-5F-5F8bWkto&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=62dPdaRP2SwqzZgAhJTdkkzk9GCTd7ffwWUSR8q68Lo&amp;m=o8HEhUnt-oFz_yGdac3Wkl0yNL_QrvT8NH45pUP8Cx5TQiQ4qR9ts1hKMe0hVBAL&amp;s=QRt4O0U0N30ToqFCa2mASXVSRKOuADix_qdgEznCKXE&amp;e=">California Democracy Partnership</a>, a growing group of civil justice, voting rights and labor organizations, was represented at the hearing by Kristin Nimmers of the California Black Power Network, Adam Lioz of Legal Defense Fund, Ramla Sahid of Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, Julia Gomez ACLU of Southern California and Deanna Kitamura, Asian Law Caucus. They emphasized the importance of passing the CVRA of 2026 urgently to modernize our state’s voting rights act and protect vulnerable populations from the constant barrage of federal attacks on our democracy.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The CVRA of 2026 is a vital step toward a more just and inclusive democracy. It closes loopholes by strengthening the CVRA to cover district-based systems, stops repeat violations before they occur, and gives communities and individuals stronger tools to fight voter suppression. By ensuring our laws are interpreted to protect voters, this legislation continues historical efforts to build a democracy that is upheld by fairness, accountability, and due process.” added Kristin Nimmers, Policy &amp; Campaigns Manager of the Black Power Network.&nbsp;"In the face of unrelenting federal attacks on Black voters, California can reassert its national leadership and once again set an example for pro-voter states by expanding and modernizing its landmark California Voting Rights Act,” said Adam Lioz, Senior Policy Counsel for the Legal Defense Fund.Earlier this year Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__email.paschalroth.com_c_eJxsjjGOrTAMAE8TOp6MnTihSPEb7mEcIyLx4SlkF2lPv3r9NlONRlOyRiL2g-2DUpRk4RgWjYc5FElhhlK2BToSA4TwJpDeh1IxtqRkAGjzgFooAvM55Q5hLMbyFicB7ecusuR7v6-5FtLr-5F3Dkvff37eifw8Xh8jzP630dtVe9PoLD5bTndrh82g4X8B8kh4vKUbernVXGe7dWt21cq5x6jascx9XH2-2DrPV7Pxkdbk7CNAYk-5Fgh5aPessfNz2nyGshXSMnm2P03sBrsZBQDJTXoWfkMjNNShogssYY5hi4JAadhFiH74y-5FAQAA-5F-5F88c2B-2D&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=62dPdaRP2SwqzZgAhJTdkkzk9GCTd7ffwWUSR8q68Lo&amp;m=o8HEhUnt-oFz_yGdac3Wkl0yNL_QrvT8NH45pUP8Cx5TQiQ4qR9ts1hKMe0hVBAL&amp;s=RJPGL7FO8EvVxUADAf0Q7W3AA1jctWL0kPRPhV18SzY&amp;e=">seized over 650,000 ballots</a>&nbsp;cast in a 2025 special election, claiming he was investigating election fraud. So-called fraud has been the motivation behind many recent attempts to upend our democratic process, but in reality recent <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__email.paschalroth.com_c_eJxszrGOhCAQANCv0U6DA8xAQXGN-5F4HDuJq4YIDdzf395ZIrr33VS4FJazSjhIUIHYHSejyCchrsticgL5HYa-2DXQLItzvG8-2DEY9nAAWoDMBitbYwi-2DAC0ScrZrcEdjDqjo2PeNXSj5nLc7zC0fvdBv01wDrA-2Dvl85q1KzjGz5C51LvUxwNrLfXIbYH2XfubHJJdwP0v-2DI5na676rtHaWPMD6-5FO7H9Ot12mt8pbGG62zxn0APjnBLmjdCJ57IGFGGk1gHURTjNvYAmDzqhTVbRchE1pPF5FDxEjXy-2DA7wEwAA-5F-5F-5F2ul-2D-5F&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=62dPdaRP2SwqzZgAhJTdkkzk9GCTd7ffwWUSR8q68Lo&amp;m=o8HEhUnt-oFz_yGdac3Wkl0yNL_QrvT8NH45pUP8Cx5TQiQ4qR9ts1hKMe0hVBAL&amp;s=Bn6klP5_eNgtOzygh-_vLNuWcZZhCSEL8JaZXSS3DJ0&amp;e=">studies by the Brennan Center</a>&nbsp;note that instances of fraud were incredibly rare. An individual is more likely to be struck by lightning than to cast a fraudulent ballot.&nbsp;Senate Bill 1164 (Cervantes) was also heard and passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee, in addition to Senate Elections. SB 1164 and 1360 both now move on to the Senate Appropriations Committee.Learn more about the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26">https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26</a>Learn more about the California Democracy Partnership here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnerhship.org">https://www.cademocracypartnerhship.org</a>###Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. The California Democracy Partnership includes AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund, ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, Asian Law Caucus, California Black Power Network, California Common Cause, California Environmental Voters Education Fund, Catalyst California, CHIRLA, League of Women Voters of California, Legal Defense Fund, MALDEF, Inland Empire United Education Fund, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, Power California, SEIU CA and the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

Sacramento, CA – Democracy advocates celebrated this week as the Senate Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments passed Senate Bills 1164 and 1360 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). The timely legislative action, sponsored by the California Democracy Partnership, updates the landmark California Voting Rights Act to add new protections against voter discrimination and bolster our democracy which is under threat from unrelenting federal attacks.

Landmark State Voting Rights Laws Move Forward in CA Senate   

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, applauds the commitment made today by Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to protect and defend our democracy.The California Democracy Partnership released the following statement from Aaron Robertson, Director of Political Voice for Catalyst California:“<a href="http://email.paschalroth.com/c/eJw0j83OmzAQAJ_G3Izs9c_CwYdeeI_1si70IxDZTqLk6atU6n2kmVkTo3PRD5IsIqAz6NywJTLoIrFHn2W2swWJMEkxpuRAOU_DnsBANM4EixYsjDETTxEm7_ws3kflzZ0ab3TUq28jX7fhSFvv96bcLwWLguWUVxuz1B855D3K-lCwgIGgYDGoYLFGwdJfl-7bXtemr6KZjr1c9dzpbDrLsctT9KPpVW4XV-K33pt-nKtUTb0T_-hG76ZPeen_Ir3_bvp-HYeCZajpj5SivPl8Wq_U_3X2BGwcZiwYPSKE-XsWplJyiASl2C8S1zk6y46DwciIYcYQ1ykatuQiD88EfwMAAP__MTFqPA">Two in three California voters</a> agree American democracy is under attack and Trump and his allies are only increasing their threats, looking for new ways to silence voters’ voices because they know that’s the only way they can hold onto power. The California Democracy Partnership is proud to stand united with our state’s elected leaders to fight attacks on our democracy. We will protect the right to vote and fight back against suppression attempts, ensure every vote is counted, and fight to ensure that ‘we the people’ means ALL people.”Get the facts:<ul><li>The Supreme Court has undercut the Voting Rights Act twice since 2013, and right now the Trump Administration is urging the court to gut core protections for voters of color, drowning out their voices with discriminatory district maps.</li><li>On Tuesday of this week, in Dallas, TX, we saw continued efforts to suppress voter turnout with last minute rule changes designed to make voting harder for everyday Americans.</li><li>Mail-in voting is under direct attack by Donald Trump. They claim they are trying to protect election integrity but they are doing the opposite.</li><li>Trump has sent federal agents to confiscate voted ballots and personal information about voters in Fulton County, GA.</li><li>The DOJ, which had long protected the equal right to vote, is now being directed to overtake state voter registration lists and purge voters based on inaccurate information</li><li>Trump is actively trying to disenfranchise voters and tamper with elections state by state, trying to suppress the vote of the most vulnerable.</li><li>Trump has proposed making English the United States’ official language and eliminating voting materials in Spanish as well as Asian and Native American languages, which are currently protected by the Voting Rights Act Section 203.</li><li>Trump is trying to suppress the vote of seniors, women, people with disabilities, and people of color by attempting to enact strict voter registration requirements.</li><li>Despite his own 2017 commission finding no credible evidence of voter fraud, Trump is pushing the SAVE Act which will require government ID to vote, immediately denying upwards of 1 million Californians, who are otherwise legally eligible to vote, the right to vote. </li></ul>###Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. The California Democracy Partnership includes Catalyst California, SEIU California, AAPI ForCE-EF, Asian Law Caucus, ACLU of Northern California, ACLU of Southern California, California Black Power Network, California Common Cause, California Environmental Voters Education Fund, MALDEF, and UCLA Voting Rights Project.

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to preserving democracy in California, applauds the commitment made today by Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to protect and defend our democracy.

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California Democracy Partnership Commends Governor Newsom, Legislative Leaders for Commitment to Protect and Defend Democracy

&nbsp;The CVRA of 26 marks the first significant update to California’s Voting Rights Act since its passage in 2002 Sacramento, CA – The Senate this week passed The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (CVRA of 26): Senate Bills 1164 and 1360 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). The timely legislative action, sponsored by the California Democracy Partnership, updates the landmark California Voting Rights Act to add new protections against voter discrimination and bolster our democracy which is under threat from unrelenting federal attacks. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 came before the Senate as <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-04-02/democracy-at-risk-california-needs-new-voting-protections-poll-shows">recent polling</a> found that two-thirds of California voters believe our democracy is under attack and voiced overwhelming support for state lawmakers to strengthen voter protections. “With the Primary election already underway in California, passing The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 out of the Senate today was a crucial step and I thank my colleagues for their support. The CVRA of 2026 will strengthen our elections and make the ballot more accessible to all Californians. It addresses new and existing barriers to participation, expands language access, and reinforces safeguards against discrimination. Elections should be inclusive, accessible, and reliable for all who participate and the CVRA of 2026 demonstrates California’s leadership in upholding these values,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), the author of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026. The <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/">California Democracy Partnership</a>, a growing group of civil justice, voting rights and labor organizations is sponsoring the CVRA of 2026. Advocates celebrated Wednesday’s advancement of the CVRA of 2026 out of the Senate but acknowledged there is much more work to do before the bills reach the Governor’s desk. “Our best defense against attempts to silence our voices at the federal level is to strengthen and update our state level voter protections. We already have some of the strongest voting rights laws in the country but when these protections are being subverted at every chance, we must do more to safeguard our rights. We thank the Senators who championed democracy today by supporting the CVRA of 2026 and look forward to working with Assemblymembers to ensure our democracy is strengthened in the face of federal attacks. We are also committed to continuing to work with our partners in the legislature to ensure ballot access is increased, not diminished, through increased language access and investments in trusted messengers,” said Deanna Kitamura, Managing Attorney for Democracy &amp; National Initiatives at the Asian Law Caucus. The CVRA of 2026 will:<ul><li>Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.</li><li>Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.&nbsp;</li><li>Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.&nbsp;</li><li>Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.&nbsp;</li><li>Require Courts to Interpret Laws in Favor of Voters: Direct courts to interpret laws and exercise discretion in favor of broad access and equal participation in the democratic process.&nbsp;</li><li>Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance requirements under state law: Codify Section 203 of the VRA’s requirement to provide in-language votable ballots and all other election materials to groups that meet a certain threshold in a county.</li><li>Expand upon current Section 203 language coverage: Lower Section 203’s numerical threshold for assistance from 10K to 5K of adult citizens in a county, and expand upon Section 203’s language minority categories to include all language groups.</li><li>Streamline and clarify the steps for language groups to receive assistance in voting: Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.&nbsp;</li></ul>"Right now, we are in the midst of a critical battle to protect the franchise of Black voters and other voters of color, who are facing the greatest assault on their voting rights since the era of state-enforced racial discrimination known as Jim Crow," said Adam Lioz, Senior Policy Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund. "The State Senate's bipartisan passage of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 helps put California back on the front lines, building on the state's leadership in enacting the first ever State Voting Rights Act in 2002."Senate Bills 1164 and 1360 now move to the Assembly. Learn more about the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26">https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26</a>### Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – The Senate this week passed The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (CVRA of 26): Senate Bills 1164 and 1360 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). The timely legislative action, sponsored by the California Democracy Partnership, updates the landmark California Voting Rights Act to add new protections against voter discrimination and bolster our democracy which is under threat from unrelenting federal attacks.

CA Senate Stands United to Protect and Defend Democracy, Passes Landmark State Voting Rights Legislation

Sacramento, CA – Today, SB 1164, one bill in the two bill package that makes up the California Voting Rights Act of 2026, advanced out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee with overwhelming support. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 will enshrine nation-leading voting rights protections into state law and strengthen California’s democracy. SB 1164 will give all voters an equal opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process without interference. "The California Democracy Partnership applauds Assembly Judiciary committee members for voting to strengthen voters' access to the ballot box in a moment when voting rights are being threatened by new Supreme Court Decisions. The CVRA of 2026 is California's opportunity to fight back and ensure California’s voters are protected despite the changing federal landscape. We are thankful to Senator Cervantes for authoring this legislation and to her colleagues in the legislature who continue to stand with California voters," said Julia A. Gomez, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, a steering member of the California Democracy Partnership. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 and SB 1164 contain important provisions to protect voters from voting discrimination: <ul><li>Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.</li><li>Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.</li><li>Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.</li><li>Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.</li><li>Require Courts to Interpret Laws in Favor of Voters: Direct courts to interpret laws and exercise discretion in favor of broad access and equal participation in the democratic process. </li></ul>“As we confront a changing federal voting landscape, it is increasingly crucial that we update California’s Voter Rights Act so that voters are protected from suppression, discrimination, and dilution, whether it's coming from the federal administration or at the local level. California’s democracy is strongest when every voter has an equal opportunity to make their voice heard and this legislation ensures that principle remains protected for generations to come,” said Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside), author of SB 1164 and the CVRA of 2026. SB 1164 now heads to a vote in the Assembly elections committee. Learn more about the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26">https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/CAVRA26</a> Learn more about the California Democracy Partnership here: <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnerhship.org">https://www.cademocracypartnerhship.org</a> ### Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – Today, SB 1164, one bill in the two bill package that makes up the California Voting Rights Act of 2026, advanced out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee with overwhelming support. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 will enshrine nation-leading voting rights protections into state law and strengthen California’s democracy. SB 1164 will give all voters an equal opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process without interference.

Amidst Federal Election Attacks, Assembly Judiciary Committee Approves Legislation to Protect Voters’ Access to the Ballot Box (SB 1164 – CVRA of 2026, Cervantes)&nbsp;

As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.&nbsp;

Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights

Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.

Prohibit Voter Suppression

Direct courts to interpret laws and exercise discretion in favor of broad access and equal participation in the democratic process.&nbsp;

Require Courts to Interpret Laws in Favor of Voters

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today applauded Governor Newsom’s <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__x.com_GovPressOffice_status_2051662586165477712-3Fs-3D20&amp;d=DwMGaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=GifLf6OREnlh5DF_akm-XBkKi-d7Z5UXRk9HuFSttt0&amp;m=NNulQ5k4AdjGM-cS9GGtOgghIPbq9sQ8m3FP0fgXdpP1iEu7PpGQfi0grEwvBCKA&amp;s=o35YEvU2wkefQwNJYXt7BrmTAQV8C2N2RP4n4uWnO4g&amp;e=" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">commitment to combatting election disinformation</a>. The group is fighting for continued funding of California’s trusted messenger program to combat election disinformation, which expires this year, and to pass the CVRA of 2026 – legislation to strengthen the state’s Voting Rights Act in the face of federal attacks on our democracy.The California Democracy Partnership released the following statement from Aaron Robertson, Director of Political Voice for Catalyst California and California Democracy Partnership Co-Chair: "Election disinformation is not a new threat, but it is a growing one – and we are increasingly seeing disinformation used as a tool of voter suppression, with communities of color discouraged from voting or misled about how or when to vote. But California knows how to fight back: trusted messengers – people who live in these communities, have earned their trust, and can deliver accurate, reliable information about how and where to vote. It works.&nbsp; “However, combating disinformation is only part of the solution. To truly protect and strengthen our democracy, we must also robustly fund our election administration and strengthen the California Voting Rights Act, ensuring that every eligible voter, regardless of the color of their skin or the language they speak, has their voice heard and their vote counted. We are confident the Governor and legislature will continue to prioritize protecting and strengthening our democracy through the budget and by advancing stronger voting rights protections, ensuring Californians’ access to the ballot box is free from interference." ###Anchored in the belief that our democracy should be by the people, and for the people, the California Democracy Partnership is a growing group of racial justice, civil rights, union and community organizations focused on making sure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home. Learn more about our work and members of the Partnership <a href="https://www.cademocracypartnership.org/our-caalition" style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">here</a>.

Sacramento, CA – The California Democracy Partnership, a powerful group of labor leaders, voting rights advocates, and community organizers committed to protecting and strengthening our democracy in California, today applauded Governor Newsom’s <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__x.com_GovPressOffice_status_2051662586165477712-3Fs-3D20&amp;d=DwMGaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=GifLf6OREnlh5DF_akm-XBkKi-d7Z5UXRk9HuFSttt0&amp;m=NNulQ5k4AdjGM-cS9GGtOgghIPbq9sQ8m3FP0fgXdpP1iEu7PpGQfi0grEwvBCKA&amp;s=o35YEvU2wkefQwNJYXt7BrmTAQV8C2N2RP4n4uWnO4g&amp;e=">commitment to combatting election disinformation</a>.

Democracy Advocates Applaud Governor Newsom’s Commitment to Combatting Election Disinformation, Call for Support of Urgent Efforts to Combat Disinformation and Increase Voter Protections

SACRAMENTO&nbsp;— Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas today issued the following joint statement in response to continued threats by President Trump and his administration to interfere with elections in California.

Governor, Senate, Assembly commit to protecting elections from Trump’s federal overreach

Working to safeguard our democracy. For the people and by the people. We are a partnership of racial justice, civil rights, labor and community organizations