Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In partnership with the Latino Legislative Caucus, the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy will host a State Capitol event examining what California is doing to ensure that limited-English speaking immigrants who are eligible to vote have equal access to voter registration as well as the ballot box.
This year, the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects access to the ballot for immigrant voters who vote in Spanish, Asian, or Native languages. The anniversary comes in an era in which the federal government is attempting to restrict voting rights. Does California do enough to honor the legacy of Section 203 and to ensure that limited-English speaking immigrant voters have equal access to voter registration and their ballot?
This 75-minute event will start with the presentation of new polling from Berkeley IGS, describing the views of the California public and limited-English speaking voters specifically on immigrant inclusion in our democracy, and the unveiling of new research from the UCLA Voting Rights Project on the impact language access has on voter turnout. That will be followed by a panel discussion featuring California's leading lawmakers and experts, describing the current legal landscape, recent unsuccessful attempts to increase access for immigrant communities, and the way forward toward language access, followed by question and answer.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Haas Jr. Fund. A recording of the event will be made available.
Presentations:
Cristina Mora Ph.D., Berkeley IGS Institute of Governmental Studies
Click here for the Berkeley IGS Press Release and Summary of Poll Findings
Diego Casillas, UCLA Voting Rights Project.
Click here for the UCLA report: The Impact of Federal Section 203 Language Voting Mandates on the 2016 Census Determinations and 2020 Election Turnout
Jessica Cobian, UCLA Voting Rights Project.
Click here for the UCLA report: The Efficacy of Translated Voting Materials by the ICLA Voting Rights Project
Panelists:
Mindy Romero, Ph.D., Director, USC Center for Inclusive Democracy (moderator)
The Honorable Gail Pellerin, California State Assembly (D-28); Chair, Assembly Elections Committee
Cha Vang, Deputy Director, Politics and Partnerships, AAPIs For Civic Empowerment Education Fund & AAPIs For Civic Empowerment
Ramla Sahid, Executive Director, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
In partnership with the Latino Legislative Caucus, the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy will host a State Capitol event examining what California is doing to ensure that limited-English speaking immigrants who are eligible to vote have equal access to voter registration as well as the ballot box.
This year, the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects access to the ballot for immigrant voters who vote in Spanish, Asian, or Native languages. The anniversary comes in an era in which the federal government is attempting to restrict voting rights. Does California do enough to honor the legacy of Section 203 and to ensure that limited-English speaking immigrant voters have equal access to voter registration and their ballot?
This 75-minute event will start with the presentation of new polling from Berkeley IGS, describing the views of the California public and limited-English speaking voters specifically on immigrant inclusion in our democracy, and the unveiling of new research from the UCLA Voting Rights Project on the impact language access has on voter turnout. That will be followed by a panel discussion featuring California's leading lawmakers and experts, describing the current legal landscape, recent unsuccessful attempts to increase access for immigrant communities, and the way forward toward language access, followed by question and answer.
This event is made possible by the generous support of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Haas Jr. Fund. A recording of the event will be made available.
Presentations:
Cristina Mora Ph.D., Berkeley IGS Institute of Governmental Studies
Click here for the Berkeley IGS Press Release and Summary of Poll Findings
Diego Casillas, UCLA Voting Rights Project.
Click here for the UCLA report: The Impact of Federal Section 203 Language Voting Mandates on the 2016 Census Determinations and 2020 Election Turnout
Jessica Cobian, UCLA Voting Rights Project.
Click here for the UCLA report: The Efficacy of Translated Voting Materials by the ICLA Voting Rights Project
Panelists:
Mindy Romero, Ph.D., Director, USC Center for Inclusive Democracy (moderator)
The Honorable Gail Pellerin, California State Assembly (D-28); Chair, Assembly Elections Committee
Cha Vang, Deputy Director, Politics and Partnerships, AAPIs For Civic Empowerment Education Fund & AAPIs For Civic Empowerment
Ramla Sahid, Executive Director, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
