Elections: language accessibility.

Senator Cervantes' comprehensive election reform legislation establishes new requirements for language accessibility in California elections, mandating that counties provide translated voting materials for language minority communities that comprise 3% or more of voting-age residents. Beginning in 2030, the Secretary of State must determine annually which language groups meet this threshold and ensure ballots, instructions, and election materials are available in those languages.

The bill requires the Secretary of State to translate key voting documents, including signature verification notices and ballot instructions, while allowing counties to select qualified translators with experience in legal documents. Counties must provide language assistance at vote centers in all required languages and post information about available language services. The legislation also updates requirements for candidate statements and ballot designations, standardizing translation procedures and allowing phonetic transliterations for character-based languages.

To implement these changes, counties must establish language accessibility advisory committees, develop voter education and outreach plans for approval by the Secretary of State, and regularly assess the effectiveness of language assistance programs. The bill maintains existing protections under federal voting rights law while expanding access through additional state requirements. Counties that demonstrate sufficient need may provide translated materials even if a language group does not meet the 3% threshold.

The measure includes provisions for reimbursing counties for state-mandated costs associated with expanded language services, subject to determination by the Commission on State Mandates. These reforms aim to minimize obstacles for voters with limited English proficiency while standardizing language assistance across California's electoral system.