Statement on SB 266: A Missed Opportunity to Expand Californians’ Freedom to Vote in Our Languages
On Friday, May 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee did not advance SB 266 to a floor vote. The bill’s co-sponsors, the Asian Law Caucus, California Common Cause, and Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), issued the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed by the California Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision not to advance SB 266, a critical bill that would have advanced California’s leadership in building a truly inclusive democracy. In a tough budget year, this choice represents a missed opportunity to support parents, working people, and immigrant communities who deserve the freedom to vote in a language they understand best.
“SB 266 would have ensured that votable ballots were provided in more non-English languages, helping close a decades-long gap that continues to disenfranchise California voters. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Elections Committee with bipartisan support and garnered strong support from civil rights organizations, immigrant communities, and voting rights advocates across the state.
“In recent months, we have heard from voters across the state who use Spanish, Arabic, Somali, and other languages, about how SB 266 would make it possible for them to fully participate in their communities and our democracy. Voters like Cris, a Spanish-speaking voter from Marin County, would benefit directly from in-language ballots.
Our movement for a multiracial, multilingual democracy is growing. With each bill we come closer to the vision of a California where every vote, regardless of language, can cast a ballot that counts. We are not backing down.”