Here’s how California can strengthen democracy and voting rights | Opinion

With the threats facing our democracy at the national level growing exponentially by the day, Californians cannot forget about the many severe challenges that continue to face both our democracy and our elections. The good news? As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act this week, we have all the solutions we need to finally build the vibrant, multiracial democracy to which that legendary law aspires.

First among our challenges, California has a deeply unrepresentative electorate, despite passing major voting reforms and massive investments in civic engagement. Young voters, Latino voters and Asian American voters cast their ballots at dramatically lower rates than the rest of the electorate.

Active efforts are underway that would make these disparities worse. This month, two California Republicans, Assemblymembers Carl DeMaio and U.S. attorney Bill Essayli, launched a campaign to place a measure on the 2026 ballot that would require voter identification and proof of citizenship at the polls — requirements that would punish low-income voters and voters of color who are less likely to have qualifying identification.

Huntington Beach already has a similar law on the books, which is now being litigated. Historically, the federal Voting Rights Act would backstop voter protections, but we don’t know how much longer it will, as it is seemingly under attack at the U.S. Supreme Court in every session.

Second, California sees the credibility of and trust in our election systems attacked regularly, despite holding safe and accurate elections cycle over cycle. Fueled by online conspiracies, elected county supervisors in Shasta County have toyed with their elections, ending voting machine contracts and appointing conspiracists to key elections roles.

The federal Department of Justice is currently suing Orange County as part of a witch hunt pursuit of noncitizens who inadvertently ended up on the county voter rolls. Rep. Darrell Issa, the San Diego County Republican, is currently suing California on baseless claims that mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day violate federal law.

And third, California faces democratic threats that go beyond the election process to the integrity of the system itself. California voters have seen years of special interests calling the shots in Sacramento and are sick of it; a recent Berkeley IGS poll found that 75% of voters believe special interest money has “too much influence in Sacramento politics and decision making.” Agreement extends to Californians of all regions, races, ages, genders, income levels and political parties.

The good news is that we know how to solve these problems.

To build a multiracial electorate that reflects our immigrant communities, we must pass language access reforms that provide the ballot in more languages. This has been repeatedly shown to increase voter turnout. Bills to this end were vetoed in 2024 and died in the Legislature in 2025, but Berkeley IGS poll data shows that 70% of California’s registered voters support the move.

To create our own backstop for voter protections, we can codify the Voting Rights Act in California law and tailor it to our own unique needs. Berkeley IGS polling again shows strong support, with 64% of California voters backing the choice.

To fight back on eroding trust in our election systems, we can encourage every voter to sign up for BallotTrax, a service provided by the Secretary of State that will tell you where your ballot is at all times and confirm when it is counted. BallotTrax has been shown to increase voter confidence in the system.

More broadly, we should explore solutions at the intersection of technology and democracy that, for example, can fight online disinformation and stop political deepfakes. A November 2023 Berkeley IGS poll found that almost 75% of California voters believe it is the “responsibility” of state government to take action to protect democracy from digital threats that poison our information ecosystems.

To confront the scourge of big money influencing our lawmakers, we can repeal the state’s constitutional ban on public financing systems, letting local governments explore matching funds systems and Democracy Dollars programs that battle big money with a wave of small-dollar donations from regular folks.

On the 60th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act, I step in as the next executive director of California Common Cause as a Black man from the Deep South.

We can honor the incredible leadership of the civil rights leaders that fought for and won this critical act by continuing the fight for a California democracy that finally includes everyone. As hard as things may be now, they fought on in times more difficult times than these. May they guide us all forward as they guide me.

Darius Kemp is the executive director of California Common Cause.