Background
The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 is a set of bills, SB 1164 and SB 1360, introduced by Sen. Cervantes that prohibits voter suppression and improve language access in elections across California. At a time when federal voting rights protections are under increased attacks, these bills seek to ensure fair representation and remove obstacles to voting.
- SB 1164 contains important provisions against voting discrimination, including prohibitions against discriminatory barriers to the ballot, protections against unfair district maps targeting communities of color, and legal pathways to enforce voting rights.
- Over 40% of Californian households that speak a language other than English, and about 3.2 million eligible voters identify as limited-English speakers. SB 1360 ensures that more limited-English voters have access to in-language votable ballots and elections materials, and simplifies how language groups can demonstrate that they qualify for in-language assistance when voting.
About
Asian Law Caucus is proud to be on the steering committee of the California Democracy Partnership, a coalition of organizations working to ensure our democracy works for everyone who calls California home.
