Promoting Early Voting and Protecting Voting Rights Together: Attorney General Bonta and Nonprofit Organizations Engage Californians Ahead of Special Election

Monday, October 27, 2025

Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — With the November 4, 2025 Special Election just over one week away, California Attorney General Rob Bonta held a virtual press conference with nonprofit organizations that are encouraging Californians to vote early, reminding Californians about their voting rights, and addressing local voting needs and concerns. Vote centers opened for early in-person voting in all Voter’s Choice Act counties this past Saturday, October 25, and eligible Californians can still register to vote in-person through Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration). Voters who did not receive their vote-by-mail ballot, or whose ballot was lost or damaged, can request a replacement ballot. The application should be returned to their local county elections office. A voter can also request a replacement ballot from their county elections office by phone, email, fax, or other electronic means.

The Attorney General enforces California’s election laws to ensure free and fair elections. In the lead up to the election and on Election Day, the California Department of Justice will be on call to provide assistance to the Secretary of State’s Office in enforcing California’s election laws, as needed, through a team of attorneys and administrative staff located across the state. Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber have recently held two joint press conferences — one in Los Angeles and the other in San Francisco — to raise awareness of voting rights and underscore the benefits of voting early.  

“Our election laws provide the backbone for a free and fair election, and as California’s top law enforcement officer, I will do everything in my power to protect your right to vote. At the same time, I want to thank the many nonprofit organizations that are working tirelessly to ensure that Californians can make their voices heard at the ballot box, no matter how those Californians plan to vote,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Democracy is not self-executing. It functions best when we know our rights, stay engaged, and take civic engagement seriously. I continue to encourage early voting — all California active registered voters have been mailed a vote-by-mail ballot and can return those ballots by mail, drop box, or vote center. Sending it ahead ensures your vote is counted and avoids last-minute complications, especially because, in many parts of California, recent changes in the U.S. Postal mail service mean that your ballot may not be counted if you drop it off at a post office or a USPS mailbox on Election Day. Vote centers have also opened for early in-person voting in 29 counties.”

“In the final days of this special election, the Latino Community Foundation is proud to stand with local leaders and Attorney General Rob Bonta to promote early voting and to remind Californians of their voter rights,” said Julián Castro, CEO at the Latino Community Foundation. “Our democracy is strongest when everyone participates, including the millions of Latinos who continue to shape California’s future. Together, we can set the standard for what democracy should look like across this nation.”

“Voting is one of our most powerful tools for creating change. Thanks to its voters, its leaders, and the work of many organizations, California has become a national leader in making voting more accessible, more convenient, and more inclusive for everyone,” said Shilpi Agarwal, Legal Director at ACLU Northern California. “But rights cannot stand on their own — we must defend and exercise them. And we can do just that by voting — and voting early — in upcoming special election.” 

“CAUSE’s 'Together We Vote' programming shows that civic participation can be creative, fun, and community-driven,” said Nancy Yap, Executive Director of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE). “Together takes many forms — whether you join us at a community event, drop your ballot in an official drop box, or vote early at a local vote center, every act of voting connects us and strengthens our collective voice.”

“Valley Voices is committed to ensuring that every resident in the Central Valley has the opportunity to make their voice heard. Our organization is actively registering new voters and providing nonpartisan education about the voting process ahead of the upcoming election,” said Ruth López, Executive Director at Valley Voices. “Through community events, outreach in rural areas, and collaboration with local partners, we aim to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to participate fully in our democracy. Every vote counts, and Valley Voices is proud to help our community engage in shaping the future of our region."

Voting Early or On Time

Due to changes in the U.S. Postal mail service, in areas outside California’s major coastal cities, a ballot dropped in the U.S. mail on Election Day might be collected too late to be counted. Under the U.S. Postal Service’s new process, mail dropped off at post offices and mail collection boxes more than 50 miles from a U.S. Postal Service regional hub is collected the next day, instead of the same day (see map below). This means that, in some areas, ballots dropped off at a post office or mail collection box on Election Day won't be postmarked until the day after, making them late. Late ballots are not counted. Californians are encouraged to drop off their ballots a day, or a few days, before Election Day. 

See below for some alternative ways to ensure your vote is counted:

• Drop off your ballot at a secure ballot drop-off box or vote center. Ballot drop-off boxes opened on October 7, 2025 and remain available until Election Day.

• If you’re cutting it close, drop off your completed mail ballot at a vote center on Election Day.

• If you can’t make it to a vote center, you can go to any post office and ask at the counter for a postmark on your ballot to ensure you get credit for mailing your ballot on time.

• Get your ballot in the mail at least a few days before Election Day. 

Voting Rights 

It is important for Californians to know their voting rights. Below is information on the California Voter Bill of Rights, additional information on state and federal protections for Californians with disabilities as they access their right to vote, and a consumer alert about the spread of misinformation online. 

California Voter Bill of Rights

The rights available to the public when voting can be found in the California Voter Bill of Rights. Those rights are the following:

1. The right to vote if you are a registered voter.

2. The right to vote if you are a registered voter, even if your name is not on the list of registered voters, by casting a provisional ballot.

3. The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close.

4. The right to cast a secret ballot without anyone bothering you or telling you how to vote.

5. The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake, if you have not already cast your ballot.

6. The right to get help casting your ballot from anyone you choose, except from your employer or union representative.

7. The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place in California.

8. The right to get election materials in a language other than English if enough people in your voting precinct speak that language.

9. The right to ask questions to elections officials about election procedures and watch the election process.

10. The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s Office.

The California Voter Bill of Rights is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Burmese, Gujarati, Hmong, Ilocano, Indonesian, Laotian, Mien, Mongolian, Nepali, Persian, Punjabi, Syriac, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

Denial of any of these rights can be reported in English through the Secretary of State’s confidential toll-free Voter Hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683). Other language options, including Spanish, Tagalog, and Chinese, are available and can be found here. In addition, reports can be made via email at elections@sos.ca.gov. Elections officials are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement regarding potential violations of law.

Consumer Alert on Misinformation’s Impact on Voting Rights

With millions of Californians turning to social media, artificial intelligence, and other internet sources for news and information about elections, the California Department of Justice published an updated consumer alert to warn about how election misinformation can potentially interfere with voting rights. California law makes it a crime to intentionally mislead voters about their eligibility to vote, or about where and when to vote.

Rights of Voters with Disabilities 

The California Department of Justice has previously released a publication entitled "Access to Voting for People with Disabilities," which includes information about the federal and state laws that protect voters with disabilities. For example:

• The federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 requires that election officials allow voters to receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice if the voter is blind or has another disability that requires assistance.

• The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires voting facilities to have accessible voting systems, parking, and routes to the entrance.

• California’s Voter’s Choice Act requires that vote centers comply with federal accessibility requirements and be equipped with voting units or systems that are accessible to voters with disabilities.

• California Government Code section 11135 prohibits disability-based discrimination in programs and activities that are conducted, operated, or administered by the state or by any state agency, are funded directly by the state, or receive any financial assistance from the state. A violation of the ADA is also a violation of section 11135.

If a person believes that they or someone else was discriminated against based on a disability while registering to vote or voting, they may file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. 

Role of Law Enforcement

The California Department of Justice has also published a law enforcement bulletin entitled "Protecting California Voters and Election Workers on Election Day and Early Voting," which discusses California laws that prohibit engaging in election interference, voter intimidation, and voter deception. Law enforcement officers should be aware of these statutes as they relate to the protection of voters in California. For example:

• Any person who, before or during an election, tampers with, interferes with, or attempts to interfere with, the correct operation of, or willfully damages in order to prevent the use of, any voting machine, voting device, voting system, vote tabulating device, or ballot tally software program source codes is guilty of a felony.  

• Blocking access to voting locations, or disrupting the process of opening or closing polling stations, is unlawful, too.

In addition, the Secretary of State’s Office issued an updated memorandum concerning voter intimidation explaining, in part, that:

• It is a felony for any person to possess a firearm at a voting location or in the immediate vicinity of a voting location.

• It is illegal for any uniformed peace officer, private guard, or security personnel or any person who is wearing a uniform of a peace officer, guard, or security personnel to be stationed at or in the immediate vicinity of a voting location.

• Shirts, hats, or other displays that indicate a person is with "Election Security" or "Ballot Security" or apparel or accessories with any semblance of a logo or display that might be confused with any private guard or security company or government agency are prohibited. This includes observers and anyone who is not there to vote. 

For a graphic of key election dates, and options for turning in your ballot on election day, please see here. 

For a map highlighting the U.S. Postal Service regional hubs, please see here.

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亞美政聯（CAUSE）聯合洛杉磯加大（UCLA）對加州國會選區重畫

記者王若然／洛杉磯報導

亞美政聯理事會主席胡澤群（Charlie Woo）。（本報檔案照）

亞美政聯（CAUSE）聯合洛杉磯加大（UCLA）對加州國會選區重畫進行研究。結果顯示，新國會選區地圖，若在今年11月公投獲通過，整體上會增加亞裔選民的影響力。亞裔選民為最多的區域（Asian plurality districts）將從之前的三個變成五個。

亞美政聯指出，很高興看到這一結果。總體來說，原本亞太裔選民數量占優勢的選區，大部分沒有被稀釋。在其他一些選區，亞太裔還增加了選民力量。亞美政聯是一個無黨派的中立機構。

在洛杉磯加大這份標題為「2025年11月特別選舉：重畫選區以及給亞裔美國人帶來的影響」報告中，提供客觀、詳細的分析。其中幾項重點內容包括：

1、整體社區投票力量：根據目前的國會選區地圖，加州共有10個國會選區中，已達投票年齡的亞裔選民占比超過20%。在新的國會地圖中，這10個選區得以維持原比率；甚至在普遍情況下，亞裔投票勢力有所增長。

2、亞裔選民為最多的區域增加：從之前的三個變成五個。新增CA-14以及CA-15，這兩個選區的國會議員分別是Eric Swalwell以及Kevin Mullin。其他三個亞裔選民占多數的選區為CA-17（國會議員Ro Khanna）、CA-28（國會議員趙美心）、CA-45（國會議員Derek Tran）。

在南加州，一些亞裔選民的重點國會選區包括：

CA-28：該選區目前的國會議員為趙美心，新的地圖下，該選區仍連結西聖蓋博谷城市，該地區亞裔選民比率仍維持在35%。

CA-38：該選區目前國會議員為Linda Sanchez，亞裔選民比率從20.95%增至26.4%，地區包括鑽石吧、羅蘭岡、哈岡地區不變。

CA-45：目前為國會議員Derek Tran，亞裔選民比率從36.9%升至40.8%，使該地區的亞裔選民更加集中。

CA-47：目前國會議員閔大衛（Dave Min），亞裔選民占比從19.3%上升至25.3%。

重新規畫選區後，亞裔選民比率下降的國會選區，包括51選區和40選區。目前這兩個選區的國會議員分別Sara Jacobs以及金映玉（Young Kim），前者占比從15.74%降到9.3%，後者則是從17.36%降到11.6%。新地圖對金映玉影響重大，該區將損失約2萬9000名亞裔選民。盡管51與40區，不是10大亞裔選民占比較大選區；但看到亞裔選民在這兩區影響力下降，亞美政聯仍感到遺憾。

新規畫的加州國會地圖，將在11月進行公投；在選票上，它名叫Proposition 50。亞美政聯理事會主席胡澤群（Charlie Woo）指出，在選區重畫議題上，很少有媒體關注其對亞太裔群體可能會產生的影響。因此，亞美政聯通過與洛杉磯加大合作，進行具體分析，為亞裔選民提供投票嚮導。胡澤群表示，總體來講，這次新畫的國會選舉地圖提升亞裔選民的力量，產生積極影響。

Source (www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/123278/8968986)

亞美政聯執行主任葉南施 獲任洛杉磯縣治理改革委員

亞美政聯執行主任葉南施 獲任洛杉磯縣治理改革委員

洛杉磯訊 2025-05-30 15:19 ET

亞美政聯執行主任葉南施致詞，後為亞美政聯理事會主席胡澤群。（CAUSE提供）

亞美政聯 (CAUSE) 華裔執行主任葉南施（ Nancy Yap）被任命為洛杉磯縣治理改革委員會 (Los Angeles County Governance Reform Task Force) 成員，該項任命已於5 月 27 日獲得洛杉磯縣政委員會的確認。該委員會由 13人組成，負責實施經選民批准的G法案（Measure G），提高洛杉磯縣政府的透明度、問責制和公眾參與度。

葉南施說，「我很榮幸能夠為塑造一個更公平、負責的洛杉磯縣的改革做出貢獻。這項工作與亞美政聯的使命高度契合，即確保我們的社區在每個決策領域都有代表。」

亞美政聯理事會主席胡澤群（Charlie Woo）表示：「葉南施的任命體現了亞美政聯的使命——通過公民參與和領導力發展，賦權亞裔美國人。她在這個工作組中的角色確保了亞太裔社區的聲音和經驗，將在這個改革的關鍵時刻幫助塑造縣政府的未來。」

葉南施在非營利組織領導、公共政策、公民教育和小型企業所有權方面擁有超過 25 年的經驗。除了領導亞美政聯之外，她還擔任洛杉磯市建築與安全委員會副主席，並曾擔任藝術區小東京社區理事會主席。她的創業型背景，為圍繞治理、公平以及弱勢群體經濟權益的討論，提供了寶貴的視角。

亞美政聯 (CAUSE) 是一個無黨派非營利組織，成立於 1993 年，旨在促進亞太裔美國人社區的公民和政治賦權。透過增強領導力、選民教育和政策倡導，致力於建立一個更具包容性和代表性的民主國家。更多信息訪問 www.causeusa.org。

"拍照、美食、串手鍊…亞美政聯投票動員會趣味多"

記者劉子為╱聖蓋博市報導 2024-11-05 01:00 ET

11月3日，亞美政聯（CAUSE）在聖蓋博市Blossom Market Hall舉辦了亞太裔投票動員會（TOGETHER WE VOTE: AN API GET OUT THE VOTE FEST），希望透過社區活動提升亞太裔的投票意願。現場提供拍照、集郵、串手鏈等有趣的方式，讓亞太裔社區成員能了解投票的重要性，並互相交流和聯結。現場還設有選票投遞站，以便民眾投票。

CAUSE執行長Nancy Yap表示，此次活動除提供選票投遞外，還包括適合家庭參與的教育活動，CAUSE一直致力成為亞太裔選民的資源中心。「我們希望民眾看到，投票和參與公共事務可以是一項家庭共享的活動。」Yap提到聖蓋博市擁有大量亞太裔居民，選在這裡舉辦活動意在提醒社區成員選舉的重要性，並提供語言資源，幫助有需要的亞裔選民獲取相關資訊。

在談到亞裔社區面臨的挑戰時，Yap指出，語言障礙和資訊獲取困難使亞裔選民難以參與政治。她說，「投票方式已經改變了，現在不僅可以郵寄投票，還可以在投票中心直接投票，而且所有機器都支持多語言翻譯。但我們發現社區成員對這些變化了解不夠。」Yap希望透過活動加強宣傳，讓選民能夠接觸更多資訊。

CAUSE的高級傳播經理蘇法恭（Farrah Su）介紹了本次活動的創意設計，希望以趣味形式讓選民感受到投票與日常生活息息相關。活動設置了拍照站、繪畫及手鏈製作站等互動區域，完成所有活動即「集郵成功」。她還提到，即便郵寄投票方式已經普及，亞太裔選民通常偏好親自投票。CAUSE希望透過這樣的活動在選舉日前持續推廣，提升亞裔選民的參與率。

"亞美政聯實習計畫畢業典禮 14大學生收穫滿滿" (World Journal)

亞美政聯（CAUSE）2023大學生暑期領導力實習計畫（Leadership Academy）畢業典禮18日在聖蓋博舉行。今年共有14名實習生從該項目畢業，他們在畢業典禮上分享了參與該項目的經歷，表示受益匪淺。

今年實習計畫已是第30屆，亞美政聯創始人創辦人兼主席胡澤群（Charlie Woo）指出，今年有100多位申請人，其中14人憑藉各自特長入選。暑期實習共有九周，學生們每周全職工作五天，約40小時，其中兩天在亞美政聯洛杉磯辦公室，另外三天在加州、聯邦民選官員辦公室或亞裔權益非營利組織實習。因為這些大學生來自美國各州，為讓他們後顧無憂地在加州實習，亞美政聯提供每位實習生4000元生活補助。

洛杉磯加大學生Meghna Nair，三歲從印度移民至美國。她說，參加該項目是想更深入了解亞裔社區的文化。她表示，通過該項目認識了很多傑出的人物，從他們身上學會了很多。她說，「亞美政聯拓寬了我的視野，讓我的世界更寬廣。」Meghna Nair在加州眾議員Al Muratsuch辦公室實習。

就讀於洛杉磯加大的Emma Chen，生長於聖蓋博谷。在參加此夏令營之前，就在亞美政聯實習。她了解到該夏令營廣受好評之後，決定也來參加。她得以在國會眾議員劉雲平（Ted W. Lieu）辦公室實習。她說，參加該項目讓她看到更多可能性，很多前輩給了她未來在該領域繼續發展的啟發。

就讀於波莫那學院（Pomona College）的Angel Yuan是加拿大人，在加拿大高中畢業後來美國讀大學。她說，通過該夏令營，認識了很多人，讓她了解政治是

芝加哥大學華裔生Liam Chia對公共政策非常感興趣，他說，自己來自於亞裔社區，弟弟有唐氏症，在照顧他的責任中，慢慢體會到社會政策和政治影響的重要性。亞美政聯的暑期項目讓他有機會更深入地了解政治，建立相關領域的人脈。他在國會眾議員趙美心辦公室實習。

胡澤群在當天的畢業典禮上祝賀14位政治實習生畢業，他強調了傳承的重要性。他說，畢業生應不忘如今所得到的實習機會，在未來應回饋給下一代亞裔，如此傳承才可以讓亞裔社區更加壯大。