The Voting Rights Project has created several tools for community-based organizations to use to educate their community members about the voting process.
Language Assistance at the Polls during Elections
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Factsheet on California State Law for Language Assistance – Provides a summary of the language assistance California voters are entitled to under the state law (Election Code 14201) and a list of languages covered in the various counties. Last updated in 2018.
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Social Media Graphics – Can be used online to promote language accessibility for voting. Click each graphic to enlarge.
- Factsheet – Provides a summary of what type of language assistance is required at the polls (both federal and state requirements), which languages are covered in the various counties in California, and what community-minded groups and individuals can do to help. Last updated in 2014.
Know Your Voting Rights California 2018
To educate voters before Election Day, Advancing Justice-LA and Advancing Justice-ALC created “Know Your Voting Rights” flyers. The flyers explain important voter information regarding voter registration, what to expect on election day, and how to report election-related problems. The flyers also include a list of California counties that must provide translated materials in various Asian languages. We encourage community groups and individuals to share widely before elections.
- November 6 General Election (all counties except Madera, Napa, Nevada, San Mateo and Sacramento Counties)
- November 6 General Election (Madera, Napa, Nevada, San Mateo and Sacramento Counties only)
- June 5 Primary Election
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR's) as Poll Workers
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Factsheet – Provides information on California’s new law that allows lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to work as poll workers, a short explanation on what poll workers do and who trains them, background information on the need for bilingual workers, and a list of ways community based-organizations can help to increase the number of bilingual poll workers on election day.
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Flyer – Can be posted in public areas to encourage lawful permanent residents in California, particularly those who are bilingual, to consider becoming a poll worker.
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Sample letter to county registrar of voters – Provides a sample for community-based organizations’ use in contacting the county registrar of voters. There is space to provide ideas for recruiting lawful permanent residents as poll workers and to request a copy of the registrar of voters’ poll worker application process to ensure that changes have been made to accommodate lawful permanent residents.
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List – Provides places counties may find individuals interested in being bilingual poll workers.
Vote-By-Mail Education
A majority of California voters are now casting their votes using Vote-by-Mail ballots rather than heading to the polls to vote on Election Day. In 2018, five California counties will implement the Voter's Choice Act, where all registered voters will receive their ballot in the mail and have three choices to cast their vote. All counties have the option to implement this new model in 2020. As more voters opt to vote by mail and with more counties conducting elections using the Voter's Choice model, it is important to make sure Vote-by-Mail ballots are being counted.
Advancing Justice-LA, in collaboration with Voter's Choice California and the Center for Civic Design, created fact sheets to educate voters and community-based organizations on how to make sure their Vote-by-Mail ballots are counted.
Non-VCA Vote-by-Mail Fact Sheet
Online Voter Registration in Eight Languages in California
- Factsheet – Provides a list of the languages covered by online registration, a link to the California Secretary of State’s online registration portal, and background information on registering online.
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Flyer – Can be posted in public areas to get the word out.
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Sample letter – Provides a sample for community-based organizations’ use in requesting that local government agencies, ethnic media, or community institutions publicize the online tool.
