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Author urges expansion of state voting-rights law after recent Supreme Court rulings
Summary
The author presented SB 11 64 to expand the California Voting Rights Act and to codify pre-Kelly-era protections into state law, broaden enforcement tools, and add preapproval in certain circumstances; civil-rights groups strongly supported the bill while municipal groups raised implementation and cost concerns. The committee passed it as amended and re-referred to appropriations.
The bill author told the committee SB 11 64 would amend the California Voting Rights Act to preserve rights California voters enjoyed under earlier federal interpretations and to create state-level tools to protect against vote dilution and suppression. The author said the bill is intended as an "amendment to the California Voting Rights Act of 2001, not a repeal and a replacement," and pledged to add clarifying language as the measure moves forward.
Civil-rights and voting-rights organizations testified in strong support. Kristen Nimmers of the California Black Power Network described widespread, ongoing threats to political representation, saying SB 11 64 would provide "important safeguards" by expanding protections and adding a limited preapproval program. Ernest Herrera of MALDEF urged passage, noting the bill would expand legal cause-of-action tools and direct courts to interpret election laws to protect voting access. Local-government speakers including Johnny Pini (League of California Cities) and others urged additional changes to preserve safe-harbor and to clarify timelines and definitions, warning of potential costs and uncertainty for jurisdictions that have already altered election systems.
Committee members acknowledged concerns and the author committed to continued stakeholder work; the committee moved to pass SB 11 64 as amended and re-refer it to the Appropriations Committee.
