California must act with the right to vote at risk again

By Christian Arana, especially for CalMatters

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This Fourth of July marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Americans will reflect on Thomas Jefferson’s enduring dictum that governments derive their “just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Today, this consent is most clearly expressed through voting.

Jefferson’s words set forth a bold vision that guided generations of Americans as they sought to build a more inclusive democracy. Progress was not easy. It took a civil war, constitutional amendments, and decades of social movements to turn these ideals into reality.

Communities of color, women, and immigrants know that these rights are not simply granted to everyone. They fought for them and defended them. From Frederick Douglass to Dolores Huerta, generations of leaders have fought to bring this country closer to its founding promise.

Today, this protection is again urgent. The right to vote is under new attack.

Proposals are advancing in Washington that could limit voting access, while the Supreme Court could change how voting is done thrown and counted. And in April, the court dealt a crushing blow to the federal Voting Rights Act, disenfranchising Hispanic and black voters.

California’s history has also shown that progress is neither inevitable nor permanent, and the state faces new pressures now that proof of civil initiative is qualified for the November elections.

For decades, women were denied the right to vote and Chinese immigrants were systematically excluded. California also enacted poll taxes and maintained English Literacy Test to deny voting to communities of color.

Significant progress followed. California has become a national leader in expanding access to the vote, and more women and people of color are now holding elected office than ever before.

California’s Voting Rights Act played a central role. Over the past two decades, he has transformed democracy across the country by imposing more than 600 local authorities to turn from the broad electoral systems and to regional elections that better reflect local communities.

like Joaquin Avilaa civil rights pioneer who helped draft the law emphasized that the right to vote was not just access to the ballot; they are about whether communities can elect representatives of their choice. The State Voting Rights Act expanded Latino voter participation and representation, leading to more responsive governance for Latino communities and policies that better reflect the needs of working families.

But the work is not done, and the California Voting Rights Act has limitations. This does not prevent discriminatory district maps. And in some jurisdictions, the lines are still drawn that way dilute electoral power of Latino communities. Unfortunately, thanks to the Supreme Court, the federal Voting Rights Act is no longer a reliable safeguard.

I found that investments in civic engagement can translate into real political power, but those gains can be fragile without stronger protections. The California Partnership for Democracy is addressing it, bringing together a broad coalition to strengthen and modernize voting rights protections through expanding language access for voters and stopping discriminatory changes before they take effect. It would also give voters new tools to challenge district maps that undermine their vote.

California was at the forefront of voting rights innovation, inspiring similar laws across the country. Over time, other states adopted stronger protections, while California stood still. Now, as democracy faces new challenges, California has another opportunity to step up.

The promise of government “by the people” is not self-fulfilling. It must be renewed, protected and expanded with each generation. Passing new voting rights protections will keep that promise and help ensure that the consent of the governed includes all of us.

This article was originally published on CalMatters and is republished under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.