On the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced two bills to expand access to the ballot: the Sustaining Our Democracy Act and the Expanding the VOTE Act. These measures aim to bolster election infrastructure and support language access for voters with limited English proficiency.
“60 years after civil rights activists overcame enormous barriers to pass the Voting Rights Act, there is an alarming surge of attacks on voting rights across our country,” said Padilla. “We must keep up the fight to ensure that all eligible Americans are able to easily participate in our democracy and cast their ballot, regardless of the language they speak at home or where they live.”
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act would fund improvements in federal election administration, secure voting systems, recruit poll workers, and increase voter access—especially for underserved and Tribal communities. The Expanding the VOTE Act, led in the House by Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), would ensure translated voting materials for the nearly 68 million U.S. residents who speak a language other than English.
“The tactics of voter suppression may look different, but the intent remains the same,” said Rep. Williams. “These bills are major steps toward protecting the fundamental right to vote.”
