Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor David J. Canepa, District 5
Subject: Resolution Condemning Voter Suppression Laws to Advance Equity and Liberty in the United States
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution to condemn voter suppression laws to advance equity and liberty in the United States.
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BACKGROUND:
The ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870 affirmed that voting rights cannot be denied based on race. However, post-Reconstruction Jim Crow laws severely restricted minority voting rights, especially for African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 helped increase voter registration and participation among African Americans and other minorities. However, the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, leading to the proliferation of voter suppression laws in at least 19 states to this day.
These laws disproportionately affect voters of color and young adults, particularly those lacking government-issued photo identifications. Additionally, restrictions on early voting and absentee voting disproportionately impact low-income, minority voters who have inflexible work and childcare schedules. Some states have also reduced the number of polling places and provided insufficient language assistance, further suppressing minority voters.
DISCUSSION:
In California, voting rights have been protected through various laws, but research has shown racial disparities in voter turnout during the 2020 general election, particularly among Latinos. In areas with larger communities of color, about 70% of registered voters cast their ballots, while primarily white areas had 87% voter turnout.
The County of San Mateo, authorized by the state to conduct elections under the Voters Choice Act, emerged as a leader in implementing this provision in California. As a result, voter turnout increased among Blacks, L...
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