Voting Rights / Democracy
My work is grounded in ensuring everyone has access to our democracy. During my time at the Voto Latino, Center for Community Change, and Democracy Alliance, I worked to engage and increase the political power of the growing Latino population and the Rising American Electorate (the new American majority composed of women, people of color, youth, and immigrants) in America. I worked to bring vote by mail to Honolulu and establish Permanent Early Vote List in Arizona to increase Latino turnout. As Treasurer at Democratic Party of Oregon I learned what it takes to protect our democracy, increase voter turnout, and ensure every voice is heard:
- We need to make it easier to participate in our democracy — not harder. Support policies for automatic voter registration at the age of 18 and same-day voter registration, the expansion of early voting periods and access to mail-in ballots, and the expansion of language access services and voter education initiatives to uplift our communities of color and people with disabilities, ensuring they understand their rights and have the resources to participate in elections.
- Every voice should be heard. Our current system makes it hard for certain folks to vote and even alienates some groups entirely. I believe that we should work to increase voting access and address barriers faced by Indigenous communities, by providing polling locations and resources in tribal areas.
- We must protect and fully restore the Voting Rights Act. Right now, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is under attack. We have to uphold the essential provisions in the Act as well as support legislation that protects and expands voting rights — including measures to combat voter suppression, fully restore the Voting Rights Act, and ensure fair and accessible elections for all citizens.
- We must combat voter suppression efforts. Tactics like restrictive voter ID laws, purging voter rolls, and limiting polling places in marginalized communities, degrades our democracy.
- We must keep our elections reliable and secure. I will advocate for funding to enhance election infrastructure, modernize technology, and strengthen cybersecurity to ensure the integrity and security of elections.