SACRAMENTO, CA — To protect and strengthen Californians’ freedom to have an equal say in the decisions that shape our lives, the Asian Law Caucus, California Common Cause, and the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) unveiled a new bill, SB 266, in the state capital today.  

Authored by Senator Sabrina Cervantes, SB 266 would keep California at the forefront of an inclusive democracy. By passing SB 266, California counties would be required to provide voters with: 

• Votable ballots in Spanish in 28 additional counties (56 counties total);
• Votable ballots in Tagalog in 23 additional counties (29 counties total); and 
• Votable ballots in Amharic, Armenian, Arabic, Russian, Somali, and other languages that federal law has long excluded.

“One of the reasons we are proud to call California home is that our state is one of the most diverse in the country,” said Senator Cervantes. “We must continue to embrace and elevate our diversity to ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to thrive. That’s what Senate Bill 266 will help achieve,” explained the Senator. “Whether a lawfully registered voter speaks English or not, they should have a voice in our government and be able to cast a ballot fairly and equally.”

A broad coalition of community groups, including many who provide services to aspiring citizens, is championing SB 266, which takes practical steps to update Section 14201 of the state voting rights law. Under its provisions, counties will be required to provide votable ballots in a non-English language once the community who speaks that language comprises at least 3% of a precinct’s voting age population. SB 266 also expands Sec. 14201’s requirements to all languages, ending the current federal exclusions. 

“For democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all; but federal and state laws have not kept up with California’s growing and diverse population,” said Deanna Kitamura, Voting Rights Managing Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus. “Our state is stronger when all voters, whether we have lived here all our lives or made California our home, have the freedom to vote equally, and that’s exactly what SB 266 would make possible.” 

“Every vote matters, and ensuring voters can cast an informed ballot means protecting their right to representation,” said Pedro Hernandez, Legal and Policy Director at California Common Cause. “SB 266 ensures that more voters—regardless of their language skills—can fully understand their choices, hold their leaders accountable, and participate in the decisions that shape their communities.”

“Voters in California who are striving to build a better life for their families are denied the full freedom to vote because they use languages excluded by federal law,” said Viveka Ray-Mazumder, Associate Director of Inclusive Democracy at PANA. “Translated sample ballots are a confusing, ineffective bandaid, and in cities like San Diego, it means thousands of Somali community members are not able to be the voters they want to be – in the know and armed with accurate information. SB 266 is an important step forward for votable ballots in dozens of languages for voters across the state.” 

Voters in California and across the country have come together to advance solutions like SB 266. In Washington, voters are able to register in Somali and Russian. In two Michigan cities, voters can get votable ballots in Arabic. In 2020, Los Angeles County asked voters about their language needs, and around 70,000 voters responded asking for a ballot in a language other than English. 

“Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act expires in just seven years, which puts at risk millions of people’s freedom to vote,” said Reshad Noorzay, Executive Director of CAIR-SV/CC. “With SB 266, we can commit to being a state where every voter has equal say.” 

“As a statewide network of organizations that promote the civic empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we strive to build a just democracy where our communities can fully participate in decision making on issues which affect our everyday lives,” said Cha Vang, Deputy Director of Politics & Partnerships at AAPIs For Civic Empowerment (AAPIFORCE). “We strongly believe SB 266 is a critical step to getting there.”

“Democracy requires inclusivity. By joining together to pass SB 266, we can bring votable ballots in Spanish to 28 counties, including Santa Cruz, Solano, and Yolo,” said Hector Villagra, VP of Policy Advocacy & Community Education at MALDEF.  “Whether voters use Spanish, Chinese, or Vietnamese, we must ensure they too can cast an informed vote on the issues that matter most to them—from getting the care they need and making a good living to keeping their families whole and safe.”