According to new polling, a majority of California voters believe that the state should take on a greater role in promoting voter participation among underrepresented groups. The survey conducted by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies reveals that nearly 70% of respondents feel that California has a responsibility to expand voter outreach services. Additionally, approximately 64% of voters support the idea of providing more funding and resources to community organizations and nonpartisan outreach groups in order to inform voters about upcoming elections and their options for returning their ballots.
The survey also highlights that a lack of information is the most common reason cited for not voting. Among registered voters who do not vote regularly, 30% attribute their lack of participation to a lack of knowledge about the candidates or the issues at hand. Democrats, liberal voters, women, younger voters, and individuals from Latino, Asian American, and Black communities express higher concerns about the low voter turnout among communities of color. In the last seven statewide elections, 71% of White voters participated regularly, compared to only 28% of Latinos, Asians, and Black individuals who voted in five or more of those elections.
In Orange County, the Registrar of Voters organizes various voter outreach opportunities during community events such as Taste of Japan, the Irvine Korean Cultural Festival, and the annual Westminster National Night Out.
Under the Voting Rights Act, election officials in areas with minority populations that have historically been excluded from the political process are required to foster relationships with these communities. In Orange County, the registrar must provide support for voters with limited English proficiency by offering assistance in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish languages.
While the Registrar of Voters in Orange County received some funds for voter education and outreach in 2022, community partners did not benefit from these resources. The registrar spent a total of $767,401 on voter outreach during the 2022 general election, with $200,000 of that amount funded by a grant under the Voter’s Choice Act.
Despite a majority of Californians supporting expanded outreach services for underrepresented groups, the survey also found that Republicans and strong conservative voters oppose allocating more state dollars toward this effort. They argue that California’s current voting laws make it easy to vote, and they are concerned about the potential political biases of organizations receiving funding.
However, Republicans like Randall Avila, the executive director of the Orange County Republican Party, express support for funding local governments for the purpose of conducting free and fair elections.
In California, the Motor Voter program automatically registers eligible individuals through the DMV unless they choose to opt-out. This program has become the primary method of voter registration for first-time registrants, especially among young voters and Asian American, Black, and Latino communities. However, the program’s impact on voter turnout has been limited, possibly due to a lack of active voter outreach and education at the DMV.
The survey also reveals that a voter’s level of political activity is closely tied to their age. Political activities in the 2022 elections, such as posting political comments online and donating money to a party or candidate, were mostly carried out by voters aged 65 and older.
In Orange County, 57% of voters were politically active during the 2022 elections, slightly lower than the total number of registered voters who engaged in political activities.
In conclusion, while California voters believe the state should play a larger role in promoting voter participation among underrepresented groups, there are differing opinions on how this should be funded. Nevertheless, efforts to increase voter outreach and education are crucial in addressing the lack of information that hinders voter turnout. Additionally, targeting younger voters and communities of color is essential for achieving a more inclusive and representative democracy.
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