After 250 years, the right to vote is at risk. California must do more to protect it

This Fourth of July marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Americans will reflect on Thomas Jefferson’s enduring adage that governments derive their “just powers from the consent of the governed.” 

Today that consent is most clearly expressed through voting.

Jefferson’s words set a bold vision that has guided generations of Americans striving to build a more inclusive democracy. Progress has not been easy. It took a civil war, constitutional amendments and decades of social movements to make those ideals real. 

Communities of color, women and immigrants know these rights weren’t simply granted to all. They were fought for and defended. From Frederick Douglass to Dolores Huerta, leaders across generations fought to push this country closer to its founding promise. 

Today that defense is again urgent. Voting rights are under renewed attack.

In Washington D.C., proposals are advancing that could restrict access to the ballot, while the Supreme Court could reshape how votes are cast and counted. And in April, the court issued a devastating blow to the federal Voting Rights Act, stripping protections from Latino and Black voters.

California’s history has also shown that progress is neither inevitable nor permanent, and the state faces new pressures now that a proof of citizenship initiative has qualified for the November ballot.

For decades women were denied the right to vote, and Chinese immigrants were systematically excluded. California also enacted poll taxes and maintained an English literacy test to deny the vote to communities of color. 

Significant progress followed. California became a national leader in expanding access to the ballot, and more women and people of color now hold elected office than ever before. 

The California Voting Rights Act played a central role. Over the past two decades it transformed democracy across the state by compelling more than 600 local governments to pivot from at-large election systems and toward district-based elections that better reflect local communities.

As Joaquin Avila, a civil rights trailblazer who helped draft the act, emphasized, voting rights aren’t just about access to the ballot; they’re about whether communities can elect representatives of their choice. The state Voting Rights Act expanded participation and  representation of Latino voters, which translated into more responsive governance for Latino communities and policies that better reflect the needs of working families.

But the work is not done, and the California Voting Rights Act has limits. It does not prevent discriminatory district maps. And in some jurisdictions lines are still drawn that dilute the voting power of Latino communities. Sadly, thanks to the Supreme Court, the federal Voting Rights Act is no longer a reliable backstop.

I’ve found that investments in civic engagement can translate into real political power, but those gains can be fragile without stronger protections. The California Democracy Partnership is addressing that, uniting a broad coalition to strengthen and modernize voting rights protections by expanding language access for voters and stopping discriminatory changes before they take effect. It also would give voters new tools to challenge district maps that undermine their voice.

California used to be at the forefront of voting rights innovation, inspiring similar laws across the country. Over time other states adopted stronger protections while California stood still. Now, as democracy faces renewed challenges, California has another opportunity to step up.

The promise of government “by the people” is not self-executing. It must be renewed, defended and expanded with each generation. Passing new voting rights protections would honor that promise and help ensure that consent of the governed includes us all.