Voting Rights & Registration

Our communities engaged in a long struggle to achieve voting rights in this country. Not too long ago, African Americans and women did not have the right to vote. At one time, even poor white men could not vote if they did not own property. And as we know, once these groups did get the right to vote, there were plenty of attempts to discourage and disenfranchise certain, often racialized groups, from exercising this right which is the very cornerstone of our democracy. Today, Greenlining Institute understands the importance of protecting this right and ensuring that all citizens are freely able and empowered to participate in our democracy.

In 2011, The Greenlining Institute worked to pass two voter empowerment bills in California

SB 397 - Online Voter Registration (carried by Senator Leland Yee)
Online Voter Registration would allow our state and counties to implement a system for eligible citizens to register to vote via the Internet. Online Voter Registration has the potential to increase turnout in our state by 9%, especially with younger voters. Arizona saw their 28% turnout rate among people ages 18-24 jump to 53% after instituting online voter registration. Counties may also decrease costs and administrative headaches to the state and counties, with increased accuracy of the voter information collected. 

This bill currently awaits Governor Brown's signature to be passed into law. (update as of 9/12/11)

SB 641 - Same Day Registration (carried by Senator Ron Calderon)
Same Day Registration would have allowed eligible citizens to register and vote all the way through election day. Currently, citizens must register to vote 15 days before an election to exercise their right on election day.

Unfortunately, this bill failed to pass the Assembly Appropriations Committee this year. We will attempt again next year to make same day registration a reality.