COUNTY CLERK/AUDITOR/RECORDER/REGISTRAR OF VOTERS - J.P. GONZALEZ

Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign a letter of support for Assembly Bill 2576 to establish the Civic Learning, Outreach, and Engagement Fund for the purpose of reimbursing counties for the costs of complying with voter registration requirements. 

SBC FILE NUMBER: 285

Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry recently introduced Assembly Bill 2576 to strengthen civic engagement for high school students and increase voter registration in underperforming counties across the state.

The right to vote is one of the most important ways for Californians to express their beliefs and preferences. However, in each statewide election in California since 1972, fewer than 60 percent of eligible voters have exercised this most basic right. In the most recent election in 2020, approximately three million people eligible to vote in California were not registered.

Unregistered eligible voters are disproportionately the most marginalized members of our communities, including the formerly incarcerated, persons at low income levels, and people of color. For many of the roughly 50,000 formerly incarcerated people whose voting rights were restored by voters by Proposition 17 in 2020, confusion still hampers their engagement. 

The bill would establish the Civic Learning, Outreach, and Engagement Fund for the Secretary of State to provide additional support to counties with the lowest voter registration rates. It offers these counties the opportunity to conduct outreach and education catered to the unique needs of communities they serve. The bill will also increase civic education and engagement for young people.