California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (SB 1164 and SB 1360 )
Voting rights are under active attack at the federal level: in court; in Congress; by Executive Orders; and through the weaponization of the U.S. Department of Justice, which has historically been a bulwark against discrimination but is now a direct threat to voters of color.
Despite its progressive reputation, conditions that foster voting discrimination persist in California:
- Unfair district maps that weaken the voting power of communities of color.
- Higher numbers of mail ballot rejections for voters of color.
- Attempts by election deniers in control of local governments to make the voting process harder.
- Lack of access to voting materials in county jail.
The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 aims to enshrine powerful voting rights protections into state law and strengthen language access so that our diverse communities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process through SB 1164 and SB 1360.
SB 1164 contains important provisions to protect voters from voting discrimination:
- Prohibit Voter Suppression: Confront threats to voter participation and access to voting opportunities that occur through discriminatory barriers to the ballot.
- Prohibit Vote Dilution: Protect against district maps or election systems that weaken or silence the voting power of communities of color.
- Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs: Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval before making certain changes to voting practices.
- Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights: As voters’ ability to use the federal Voting Rights Act (“federal VRA”) comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.
- 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.
SB 1360 contains important provisions to ensure limited-English voters can fully and meaningfully participate in California’s elections. The bill will:
- Guarantee the federal VRA’s language assistance under state law: Ensures voters don’t lose in-language materials if federal coverage isn’t renewed in 2032 or if the current Administration fails to enforce those protections.
- Expand federal Voting Rights Act language coverage: Ensures language communities not currently covered under federal law, including Somali and Arabic speakers, receive in-language voting materials.
- Clarify the process to petition for language coverage: Allows groups not adequately captured in the Census to use other data sources to show eligibility for language assistance.
California must act now to protect voters of color and build a more fair and inclusive democracy.
Principal Bill Author:
Senator Cervantes
Bill Co-Sponsors:
- The California Democracy Partnership
- AAPIs for Civic Empowerment (AAPI ForCE)
- ACLU California Action
- Asian Law Caucus California
- California Black Power Network
- California Common Cause
- California Environmental Voters
- Catalyst California
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
- Inland Empire United Education Fund
- League of Women Voters of California
- MALDEF – Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund
- NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc.
- Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
- Power California
- SEIU California
- UCLA Voting Rights Project