Senator Cervantes Works to Protect Voting Rights

Introduced

California Voting Rights Act of 2026

Why Do We Need the California Voting Rights Act of 2026?

Senator Sabrina Cervantes is authoring the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 (CVRA 2026)—composed of Senate Bill 1164 and Senate Bill 1360—a proposed update to the original CVRA that was signed into law in 2002. The purpose of CVRA 2026 is to fight voter suppression and vote dilution in light of the Supreme Court of the United States eroding the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as improving language access assistance to limited-English proficient (LEP) voters in California.

Recent polling has shown that two-thirds of California voters believe American democracy is under attack and expressed overwhelming support for state lawmakers to strengthen voter protections. The California Voting Rights Act of 2026 is an answer to that call to action.

What Are the Specifics?

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 historically disenfranchised communities.

Stop Voting Discrimination Before It Occurs

Require jurisdictions with a recent history of discrimination to obtain approval from the Attorney General before making certain changes to voting practices.

Ensure Voters Can Directly Protect Their Rights

As voters’ ability to use the federal VRA comes under attack, ensure Californians can go to state court to enforce voting rights.

Guarantee the Federal VRA’s Language Assistance Requirements Under State Law

Codify in state law language access assistance services currently required by Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is set to expire in 2032.

Expand Upon Existing Section 203 Language Coverage

Expand language assistance service coverage beyond what is currently required by Section 203 to include additional language groups.

Streamline and Clarify the Steps for Language Groups to Receive Assistance in Voting

Gives groups not adequately captured in the Census the opportunity to show, through other sources, that they should qualify for language assistance.

Voices

The CVRA 2026 will strengthen our elections and make the ballot more accessible to all Californians. It addresses new and existing barriers to participation, expands language access, and reinforces safeguards against discrimination. Elections should be inclusive, accessible, and reliable for all who participate, and the CVRA 2026 demonstrates California’s leadership in upholding these values.

— Senator SABRINA CERVANTES
District 31

Voting is under attack across the country by those seeking to clear the path for rolling back decades of anti‑discrimination law, to replace lawful immigration policy with brute‑force enforcement, and to recast political dissent as disloyalty and treason. And that is why the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 is essential. California must act now as the efforts to make voting harder and to limit remedies for the denial of the right to vote are only accelerating.

— HECTOR VILLAGRA
Vice President of Policy Advocacy and Community Education, MALDEF – Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Our best defense against attempts to silence our voices at the federal level is to strengthen and update our state level voter protections. We already have some of the strongest voting rights laws in the country, but when laws are being subverted at every chance, our current safeguards may not be enough. We thank the Senators who stood strong behind our democracy today by supporting the CVRA of 2026 and look forward to working with Assemblymembers to ensure our democracy is strengthened in the face of federal attacks. We are also committed to continuing to work with our partners in the legislature to ensure ballot access is increased, not diminished, through increased language access and investments in trusted messengers.

— DEANNA KITAMURA
Managing Attorney for Voting Rights at the Asian Law Caucus

Right now, we are in the midst of a critical battle to protect the franchise of Black voters and other voters of color, who are facing the greatest assault on their voting rights since the era of state-enforced racial discrimination known as Jim Crow. The State Senate's passage of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 helps put California back on the front lines, building on the state's leadership in enacting the first-ever State Voting Rights Act in 2002.

— ADAM LIOZ
Senior Policy Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund

As threats to free and fair elections worsen in California and nationally, working Californians are united in their call for legislative action to protect our democracy and increase election integrity – from more inclusive language resources to ensuring our democracy in California is protected and strengthened. Through the California Democracy Partnership, SEIU California and our 750,000 members are committed to standing with Senator Cervantes in the fight to ensure working people have our voices heard and are grateful for her partnership on the California Voting Rights Act of 2026.

— ARNULFO DE LA CRUZ
President of SEIU Local 2015 and SEIU California Executive Board Member

The CVRA of 2026 is a vital step toward a more just and inclusive democracy. It closes loopholes by strengthening the CVRA to cover district-based systems, stops repeat violations before they occur, and gives communities and individuals stronger tools to fight voter suppression. By ensuring our laws are interpreted to protect voters, this legislation continues historical efforts to build a democracy that is upheld by fairness, accountability, and due process.

— KRISTIN NIMMERS
Policy & Campaigns Manager of the Black Power Network, who testified in support of the Act

By the Numbers

2/3

of California voters believe democracy is under attack

22.9M

of California‘s 26.9 million eligible adults (85%)^* were registered to vote as of 2/2025.

*Source: Poll from Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies

Who Is Supporting the Bills?

CVRA 2026 sponsor, California Democracy Partnership, is a growing group of civil justice, voting rights, and labor organizations. Advocates celebrated Tuesday’s advancement of the CVRA 2026 out of the Senate but noted there is much more work to do before the bills reach the Governor’s desk.

AAPIs for Civic Empowerment
Asian Law Caucus
ACLU California Action
California Common Cause
California Environmental Voters
Catalyst California
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Inland Empire United
League of Women Voters California
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
Power California
SEIU California
UCLA Voting Rights Project
Black Leadership Council
California Clean Money Campaign
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation of Teachers (CFT)
Courage California
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP)
Starting Over
Vietrise

What Can You Do to Support the Bill?

Write a support letter. Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of voting.

Contact Senator Cervantes’ Office

View the full list of my 2026 legislative package.

Why Do We Need the California Voting Rights Act of 2026?

Voices

By the Numbers

What Can You Do to Support the Bill?

SD31 Offices

Capitol

Riverside

Quicklinks