Advancing Justice – California Mobilizes Hundreds of Poll Monitors to Protect Rights of Limited English Proficient Voters
Civil Rights Organizations to Ensure Language Access and Elections Compliance Across State
San Francisco, CA – As the rights of immigrants across the country are threatened, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California (Advancing Justice – CA) is expanding its non-partisan efforts to make sure voters in California’s limited-English proficient immigrant communities are able to exercise their right to vote without impediment.
“Tomorrow we expect to see voters from all walks of life casting their votes here in California,” said Jonathan Stein, Voting Rights Program Manager & Staff Attorney at Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus. “For California’s democracy to be truly representative of its diverse population, California has an obligation to provide the most effective language assistance possible.”
“We are proud to help safeguard Californians’ right to vote,” said Deanna Kitamura, Voting Rights Project Director at Advancing Justice – Los Angeles. “Every voter deserves to participate in the democratic process, no matter their language proficiency.”
Advancing Justice – CA is a joint project between Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco and Advancing Justice – Los Angeles. Our Election Day poll monitoring work ensures that voting sites comply with state and federal laws requiring language assistance for limited-English proficient voters. Our poll monitoring also ensures access for voters with disabilities and works to prevent other barriers to the ballot, such as voter harassment and inappropriate and unlawful Voter ID requirements.
The organizations have conducted poll monitoring for over two decades. This election, the two organizations will send over 350 poll monitors to more than 800 voting sites in 16 counties across the state. From Orange County to Yolo County to Stanislaus County, Advancing Justice – CA is proud to ensure that Californians have the access to vote.
“Now is the time to exercise our right to vote, to hold our elected officials accountable, and to demand real change,” said Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus. “While the current political climate is incredibly challenging, we must seize opportunities to create systemic change whenever we can.”
“With the current rhetoric of xenophobia and hate, our communities’ voices are critical at this time,” said Reshma Shamasunder, Vice President of Advancing Justice – Los Angeles. “Thanks to our poll monitors, hopefully, all voters feel confident casting their ballots at the polls.”
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ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE – CALIFORNIA
Advancing Justice – CA is a partnership between Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (Advancing Justice – ALC) in San Francisco and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA).
ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE – ASIAN LAW CAUCUS
Advancing Justice – ALC was founded in 1972 as the nation’s first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, Advancing Justice – ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Visit www.advancingjustice-alc.org.
ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE – LOS ANGELES
Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Advancing Justice – LA is the largest civil rights organization working in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Advancing Justice – LA focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and NHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. Visit https://www.advancingjustice-la.org.
Media Contacts:
Christina So, Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus, 415-848-7728, christinaso@advancingjustice-alc.org
Jessica Jinn, Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, 213-241-8817, jjinn@advancingjustice-la.org