California Humanities is pleased to share details for our new season of California on the Ballot. Please join us this spring and summer for five free online discussions about the past, present, and future of electoral engagement in California.
Our theme this year is barriers to voting – what obstacles have defined the voter experience in California history? How has California worked to increase voter access? What work is left to do? We’ll talk with groups whose relationship to the ballot has a complicated history, including DACA recipients, incarcerated citizens, and Indigenous communities across California.
Equity at the Polls: Voter Access in California Elections | Thursday, April 28, 4 pm
Since 1960, California has greatly improved its voter registration process. Ballots are now mail-in and multilingual, and registration is available up to election day. Why then do California elections not fully reflect the diversity of the state? What tactics can increase – and sustain – voter engagement?
Voters on the Move | Wednesday, June 22, 4 pm | Register
California is home to one in eight US residents. Yet population growth has slowed: the 2020 Census resulted in a rare loss of a seat in the House of Representatives. What factors explain motion in the California electoral map? What practical challenges are presented by voter turnover?
Voting Rights for Incarcerated Californians | Wednesday, July 20, 4 pm | Register
In November 2020, California voted to refranchise 50,000 parolees under Prop 17, sparking a broader conversation about voting rights for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated citizens. So, what is the situation today? How has this question been discussed throughout state history?
Voting Rights for DACA Recipients – Ten Years In | Thursday, August 11, 4 pm | Register
California is home to 183,000 DACA recipients, and nearly 1 in 4 Californians is foreign-born. What civic powers do DACA status holders have in California? How is voter access offered at the local, state, and federal levels? On its tenth anniversary, what is the legacy of this landmark program?
Voting Rights for Indigenous Populations | Wednesday, September 28, 4 pm | Register
Despite rights granted by the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, many native people remain excluded from democratic processes. We explore the barriers facing native voters and seekers of public office, including landmark legal battles, literacy laws, and voter ID requirements. How do other countries govern alongside their Indigenous populations?
California Humanities is committed to making these programs accessible. For accommodation or assistance, please write to Program Associate Kirsten Vega at kvega@calhum.org in advance.
More about California on the Ballot:
- Watch highlights of Season One
- Read a short article on California on the Ballot
- Find your next podcast or book in Resources for Further Engagement
California on the Ballot is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of their A More Perfect Union initiative.
