VRP – Voting Rights Project

CHIRLA and UCLA Voting Rights Project Ask Court to Stop Justice Department from Targeting California Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers, alberto@uclavrp.org

CHIRLA and UCLA Voting Rights Project Ask Court to Stop Justice Department from Targeting California Voters

With voting already underway, the emergency motion challenges a federal demand targeting voters identified as alleged noncitizens less than three weeks before Election Day

LOS ANGELES (October 15, 2026) — Attorneys with the UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP), including Senior Advisor Xavier Becerra, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), representing CHIRLA and California voter Pedro Trujillo, today filed an emergency application for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction asking a federal court to stop the Department of Justice from using a list of alleged noncitizens to withhold or segregate California voters’ ballots.

Immediately following the filing this morning, the court directed the parties to confer and submit a joint status report by October 16 proposing a briefing schedule and addressing whether a hearing is necessary. The emergency motion remains pending.

The emergency motion follows an October 13 letter in which the Justice Department gave California officials 48 hours to review the federal list or face legal action. According to the motion, federal officials provided the state officials with a thumb drive containing the names of people they believe are noncitizens who received mail ballots. DOJ directed election officials to withhold ballots from those on the list or segregate returned ballots and not count them.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to prevent the federal government from using the list while the lawsuit moves forward. If the court does not grant that request, they are asking for protections that would allow affected voters to learn whether they have been included and provide documentation confirming their citizenship before their ballots are excluded.

“The federal government does not have the constitutional authority to take control of California’s elections or dictate which ballots state and local officials should count,” said Chad Dunn, legal director of the VRP. “With voting already underway, eligible citizens should not have their ballots withheld based on a federal list they have never seen and have had no opportunity to challenge. We are asking the court to intervene before voters suffer harm that cannot be corrected after Election Day.”

“As citizens, including many naturalized CHIRLA members, are preparing to solemnly exercise their constitutional right to cast a vote in the ongoing elections, the Federal Government is threatening at this late hour to extinguish their opportunity to do so,” said Carl Bergquist, CHIRLA General Counsel. ”The letter sent to California election officials necessitated our move to shield these rights, and to prevent the mass disenfranchisement of lawful citizens, some of whom are exercising this right for the very first time.”

The motion argues that the federal government’s demand exceeds the authority granted to the Executive Branch and would force California election officials to violate the National Voter Registration Act, which prohibits systematic voter-removal programs during the 90 days before a federal election.

The plaintiffs have requested immediate relief because California officials were directed to respond to the Justice Department by noon Eastern on October 15. The court may rule on the written filings, request a response from the federal government or schedule a hearing.

Read the emergency motion here and the court order here.

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Background

CHIRLA filed the lawsuit on September 2, 2026, challenging the federal government’s use of databases—including the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system—to identify registered voters as alleged noncitizens and pressure states to alter their voter rolls. The lawsuit alleges that the process inaccurately targets naturalized citizens, infringes voters’ constitutional and privacy rights, and unlawfully interferes with state election administration.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

October 15, 2026/by Alberto Lammers

Research Reports

Understanding the Intersection Between Voter Access and Disability in Voter’s Choice Act Counties for the 2022 Primary and General Elections

In this report, the UCLA Voting Rights Project (UCLA VRP) was tasked with providing an analysis of how voters with disabilities engage in the voting process in Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) counties. As of the writing of this report, no state collects data on voters with disabilities, and there is no way to quantitatively evaluate disability access and turnout through the voting data maintained by the California Secretary of State’s Office. Given these conditions, it is vital to hear feedback from voters with disabilities on the voting process and receive guidance on how the electoral process can be more equitable in California.

This report draws on focus group and interview data from a sample of voters in VCA counties who identify as having a disability or impairment. While the focus group sample is very limited for this first report, it does set a baseline for future studies. The report is divided into two sections 1) information on voters with disabilities, which includes an academic literature review of the existing research on this subsect of voters, and 2) response information from focus groups that were commissioned by the California Secretary of State and conducted by the UCLA Voting Rights Project. As further explained in the sections below, these focus groups were comprised of voters who self-identified as having mobility limitations, sight limitations, and hearing limitations.

VRP Data Scientists Present Language Access Research in Sacramento

C&P New Press Release Below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

Jessica Cobian and Diego Casillas, UCLA PhD students present important research on the efficacy of bilingual voting materials at Sacramento briefing.

SACRAMENTO (June 23, 2025) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, a landmark federal provision requiring jurisdictions to provide bilingual voting materials and assistance to voters with limited English proficiency. To commemorate this milestone, the UCLA Voting Rights Project presented new research at the California State Capitol examining whether California is adequately advancing equitable ballot access for limited English-speaking immigrant voters.

The event—“Does California Go Far Enough to Ensure Immigrant Inclusion in Our Democracy?”—was hosted by the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy, in partnership with the California Latino Legislative Caucus and the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. The event was made possible through support from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the Haas Jr. Fund.

Research Highlights from the UCLA Voting Rights Project

UCLA VRP Senior Fellow, Jessica Cobian presented findings from the report, The Efficacy of Translated Voting Materials. The analysis finds that translated materials play a critical role in enhancing voter confidence, minimizing confusion at polling sites, and improving administrative efficiency. The report further emphasizes the indispensable role of bilingual poll workers and the need for sustained collaboration with community-based organizations to advance linguistic inclusion and ensure equitable access to the ballot for limited English-speaking voters.

“Language access is a vital mechanism for civic inclusion. When jurisdictions fail to address language barriers, entire communities are excluded from shaping the policies that govern their lives and electing the representatives who speak on their behalf. Advancing language access requires sustained investment, collaborative outreach, and long-term institutional commitment.” — Jessica Cobian, Senior Fellow, UCLA Voting Rights Project

UCLA VRP Senior Fellow, Diego Casillas shared findings from the report, The Impact of Federal Section 203 Language Voting Mandates on the 2016 Census Determinations and 2020 Election Turnout. This analysis demonstrates that jurisdictions required to comply with Section 203 experienced significantly higher turnout among limited-English proficient voters in the 2020 election.

Jessica Cobian, UCLA Voting Rights Project Senior Fellow, presenting in Sacramento

ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT

The UCLA Voting Rights Project is a project of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the UCLA School of Law aimed at creating an accessible and equitable system of voting for all Americans through impact litigation, research, and clinical education to expand access to the ballot box.

Founded in 2018 by civil rights attorney Chad W. Dunn, J.D. and voting rights political science expert Matt Barreto, Ph.D. the VRP seeks to address three gaps in the voting rights field: training newly graduated, young lawyers and expert witnesses; developing new legal and social science theories for voting rights cases; and advancing voting rights through national and local public policy and litigation.

The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals, regardless of race, partisanship, gender or class are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu

May 28, 2026/by Madeline Martinez

News, Press Releases

UCLA Voting Rights Project Issues Letter to Riverside County Regarding Concerns Over Sheriff Bianco’s Outside Legal Fees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Issues Letter to Riverside County Regarding Concerns Over Sheriff Bianco’s Outside Legal Fees

Letter outlines why Riverside Co. taxpayers should not be on the hook for Sheriff’s private attorney’s fees.

LOS ANGELES (April 13, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today sent a letter to Riverside County supervisors outlining concerns over any possible effort by the County to pay outside legal fees incurred by Sheriff Chad Bianco after he hired a private law firm to defend himself in litigation arising from his seizure of approximately 650,000 ballots and election materials.

Riverside County has noticed a closed-session discussion for Tuesday, April 14, involving four lawsuits against Sheriff Bianco. One of those matters is the case brought by VRP clients, who challenged Bianco’s seizure of ballots and election materials from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Today’s letter states that Bianco chose to defend himself through outside counsel rather than be defended by the Riverside County Counsel, and that he did so without first obtaining the approval required under California law.

Under Government Code section 995.1, a county employee seeking outside legal defense must request that defense from the County before those costs are incurred. According to VRP’s letter, Sheriff Bianco did not do that. Instead, retaining private counsel to defend him in the four separate lawsuits over his election-related conduct.

“Sheriff Bianco chose to hire his own private lawyers without any indication that he followed the process required by California Law.” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Counsel at the VRP. “It is concerning that Riverside County taxpayers may be asked to cover possibly hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in legal fees resulting from that decision.”

The letter also points to a similar dispute in Los Angeles County, where then-Sheriff Alex Villanueva contracted with outside legal counsel without approval from the County Board. In that matter, a California appellate court found that the County had retained the power to contract for legal services, not then-Sheriff Villanueva. The letter argues that the same principle applies here: Sheriff Bianco cannot bypass County Counsel, hire his own private firm, and then require Riverside County to reimburse him after the fact.

In its letter, VRP asks the Board of Supervisors to reject any request to reimburse Bianco for private legal fees tied to the pending litigation over his seizure and handling of election materials.

Read the letter here.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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April 13, 2026/by Alberto Lammers

News, Press Releases

UCLA Voting Rights Project Asks California Supreme Court for Immediate Stay in Riverside Election Materials Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Asks California Supreme Court for Immediate Stay in Riverside Election Materials Case

LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today filed a reply with the California Supreme Court asking the Court to immediately stay any further seizure and handling of ballots and election materials while this case proceeds. In the filing, VRP argues that this matter cannot wait because Riverside voters’ rights are being harmed now, the sheriff has continued removing election materials, and no other plain, speedy, or adequate remedy exists to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

“We are asking the Court to act immediately to stop any further seizure or handling of ballots and election materials while this case is considered,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Attorney at the VPR. “Contrary to Sheriff Bianco’s statement, Riverside voters absolutely have standing to bring this challenge. The harm is ongoing, and waiting for some other process to unfold would only deepen the damage to public confidence in the system.”

“Our election law is clear that voted ballots are to remain in the custody of election officials, and nothing the sheriff has presented changes that basic rule,” Waknin added. “The Court should issue a stay now, return lawful custody where it belongs, and prevent any further interference with the handling of election materials.”

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

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March 30, 2026/by Alberto Lammers

News, Press Releases

UCLA Voting Rights Project Notifies California Supreme Court of New Developments in Riverside Election Materials Seizure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alberto Lammers; alammers@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA Voting Rights Project Notifies California Supreme Court of New Developments in Riverside Election Materials Seizure

Letter cites new reporting from The New York Times, indicating that no special master has been appointed and that Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 426 additional boxes of election materials from the Riverside County Registrar.

LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2026) — The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) today notified the California Supreme Court of new developments in its pending petition arising from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of election materials.

In a letter filed with the Court, petitioners pointed to new reporting by The New York Times indicating that no special master has been appointed in connection with the sheriff’s actions, despite a video recording of Bianco where he claims to the contrary. The filing also cites the Times’ reporting that Bianco seized 426 boxes of new election materials from the Riverside County Registrar on Tuesday of this week.

The letter was filed as the California Supreme Court considers next steps in the case, which has been docketed as Case No. S295866.

“These new developments make an already serious situation even more alarming,” said Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Attorney of the VRP. “California law is very clear. Election materials are to remain in the custody of election officials and be handled through established public processes. The reported seizure of additional boxes of election materials, without the appointment of a special master, only deepens the urgency of judicial intervention.”

VRP Senior Voting Rights Advisor and former California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, stated, “Today we filed an additional briefing with the Supreme Court documenting that Sheriff Bianco continues to violate the law by removing ballots and election materials from the Registrar of Voters Office. We are calling on the California Supreme Court to order Sheriff Bianco to immediately return all ballots and election material to the custody of the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.”

In the filing, petitioners argue that these developments are causing irreparable harm to the integrity of the electoral process and undermining public confidence in elections. The letter asks the Court to exercise jurisdiction over the matter, as the scope of the seizure continues to expand.

The VPR filed its original writ petition with the California Supreme Court on March 26, 2026, seeking immediate relief in response to the sheriff’s seizure of election materials from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters.

ABOUT the UCLA Voting Rights Project

The UCLA Voting Rights Project was established to protect equal voting rights for all Americans through strategic litigation, social science research and policy advocacy. The VRP seeks to ensure that all individuals are afforded equal access to the electoral process and representation in governance. For more information about the UCLA Voting Rights Project, please visit vrp.ucla.edu.

March 27, 2026/by Alberto Lammers