Why AB 884 is a vital step for California’s diverse democracy

OPINION – As the author of Assembly Bill 884, I am committed to ensuring that every Californian, regardless of their language preference, can fully engage in our democratic process. In a state as diverse as ours, it’s clear that our voting system needs to evolve to truly represent all voices.

California’s strength lies in its mosaic of cultures and languages, but our current state and federal laws don’t fully honor this diversity. Our state’s election language access laws, which are rooted in legislation passed in 1982, fall short of today’s needs. For example, languages like Arabic, Farsi, Somali, and Russian are not included under our state requirements for translated election materials. This oversight extends even to Spanish speakers in counties like Santa Cruz, where the population does not meet the stringent federal population requirement. With over 5.8 million adults who are limited English proficient residing in California, it is clear that our laws must evolve to reflect our state’s linguistic diversity more accurately and inclusively.

AB 884 is designed to fix this. It expands language support to ensure that voters who speak previously excluded languages receive the full range of election materials they need. This includes Arabic and Farsi-speaking populations, as well as Spanish speakers who do not meet federal thresholds. By mandating in-language votable ballots and comprehensive election materials based on clear and inclusive criteria, AB 884 fills these gaps and ensures that no voter is left behind.

Our state’s commitment to language access shouldn’t hinge on federal decisions that may change – it is unclear if congress will act to reauthorize the federal language access law.  AB 884 stands as a proactive measure to safeguard California’s commitment to inclusivity. It ensures that California continues to lead in upholding democratic principles and making our elections accessible to all. As a result of AB 884, hundreds of thousands of individuals— will have ballots available in their preferred language.

At each step in the legislative process, AB 884 has advanced with wide margins of support, most recently passing the Senate with near unanimous support.  As we move forward with AB 884, let’s remember that ensuring equal access to the ballot box is not just a policy goal—it’s a fundamental democratic principle that we must uphold. California has the opportunity to set a new standard for inclusivity and accessibility. AB 884 is our chance to make that vision a reality and demonstrate our unwavering commitment to every voter’s right to cast their ballot freely and fairly.

Evan Low is a California Assemblymember representing the 26th District.