About the Scorecard

ACLU California Action is excited to celebrate the five-year anniversary of our Legislative
Scorecard. Each year for the last five years, we have produced a scorecard designed to show
where your state legislators stand on bills advancing equity, justice and freedom. California’s
legislators are evaluated on our officially sponsored bills, which demand systems-level change
and center our most impacted communities. Many of our sponsored bills face significant
opposition.

We know the movement for justice needs champions. Over the years, several legislators voted
with us 100% of the time. So, this year, in honor of our five-year anniversary, ACLU California
Action unveiled a scorecard with a tiered recognition structure. The 2023 Legislative Scorecard
recognizes legislators for the number of years they have been “Champions” for civil liberties
and civil rights. Review our newly released scorecard here to:

  • Find out where your legislator stands on the most consequential civil rights and civil liberties issues impacting Californians today.
  • Thank “Champions” for their support.
  • Call on all legislators to join us in our ongoing fight for justice and democracy.

ACLU California Action is nonpartisan. We do not endorse or oppose candidates for elected
office, nor do we make financial contributions to candidates. We urge voters to go to the polls
and educate the public about their legislators’ records on civil rights and civil liberties through a
range of programs, including amplifying key votes cast by legislators through in-district paid
communications campaigns.

HOW SCORES ARE CALCULATED

ACLU California Action weighs in on hundreds of bills each year, ranging from criminal justice to
privacy to voting rights. We publish an annual legislative scorecard evaluating the vote records
of California’s 120 state legislators on pressing civil rights and civil liberties legislation from the
prior year. We use only the final floor vote in each house of the legislature so that members of
each house are evaluated on the same votes.

A failure to vote on a bill attributable to an absence, as verified by the official record, is not
counted against a member. Abstentions are counted because they represent an intentional
decision not to vote on a bill, which effectively counts as a vote against the bill because passage
of legislation requires at least a majority of “yes” votes.

  • 5-Year Champions: Legislators who voted with us and scored 100% every year since 2019.
  • 4-Year Champions: Legislators who scored 100% four times since 2019.
  • 3-Year Champions: Legislators who scored 100% three times since 2019.
  • 2-Year Champions: Legislators who scored 100% twice since 2019.