UCLA Voting Rights Project: Championing Equitable Access to Democracy
The UCLA Voting Rights Project (UCLA VRP) stands as a dedicated force in the pursuit of an accessible and equitable voting system for all Americans. Founded in 2018, the project undertakes impact litigation, conducts research, and promotes clinical education to expand access to the ballot box. The UCLA VRP operates as part of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, and addresses overlooked yet monumental gaps in the field of voting rights.
Origins and Mission
Established by civil rights attorney Chad W. Dunn, J.D., and voting rights social science expert Matt Barreto, Ph.D., the UCLA VRP is committed to training young lawyers and researchers, supporting the development of new legal and methodological theories for voting rights cases, and advancing policy work. The project ensures that a new generation of leaders can guarantee all citizens have equal and fair access to democracy.
Core Activities
The UCLA VRP engages in various activities to fulfill its mission:
- Impact Litigation: The project actively pursues legal action to challenge voting practices and laws that disenfranchise voters, particularly those from marginalized communities.
- Research: The UCLA VRP conducts research to identify barriers to voting and to develop evidence-based solutions to improve voter access and participation.
- Clinical Education: The project offers clinical education opportunities to law students, providing them with hands-on experience in voting rights law and advocacy.
High-Profile Appointments
The UCLA Voting Rights Project has attracted prominent figures to its leadership team. In April 2025, Xavier Becerra, the Health and Human Services Secretary, and Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the California Assembly from 2016-2023, were appointed to advise on strategy and policy related to preserving voter access and protection. Rendon, as senior public policy advisor, helps shape the UCLA VRP’s policy response to voter suppression efforts and develop proactive strategies to expand voting access at the state and national levels.
Rendon stated, “California has proven that we can broaden voter access and strengthen democracy at the same time,” highlighting the importance of proactive measures to ensure fair representation.
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Legal Victories and Ongoing Efforts
The UCLA Voting Rights Project has achieved notable legal victories in its mission to protect voting rights. One significant win occurred when the United States Supreme Court denied a last-ditch attempt to invalidate a lower court ruling relating to a redistricting map in Washington state that violated the Federal Voting Rights Act. The contested map would have diluted Latino electoral influence.
Sonni Waknin, VRP program manager and voting rights counsel, emphasized the importance of the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it "guarantees that all voters can participate, assured their votes count on a map adhering to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. We are proud to advocate for our clients in the Yakima Valley."
The UCLA VRP continues to challenge electoral systems that hinder fair representation. In a recent legal action, the project challenged the hybrid at-large electoral system employed by the Franklin PUD in Washington state, arguing that it systematically prevents Latino candidates from winning elections. According to Sonni Waknin, “Our filing today builds on our ongoing efforts to ensure that all communities in Franklin County have a voice in the administration of their public utilities.” The complaint asserts that the at-large voting system, combined with racially polarized voting and districting practices, dilutes the electoral power of Latino voters.
In 2022, Franklin County settled a similar lawsuit brought under the Washington Voting Rights Act, acknowledging the existence of polarized voting and promising reforms. However, the UCLA VRP continues to push for comprehensive changes to ensure fair representation for all communities.
Mr. Morfin stated, “We need fair representation at every level of politics, because politics affects us at every level.”
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Nonpartisanship and Collaboration
The UCLA Voting Rights Project maintains a nonpartisan stance, focusing on building strong relationships with community organizations and higher education institutions. This approach allows the project to concentrate on improving voter access and creating opportunities for students to participate in the democratic process. The UCLA VRP believes that elections should be inclusive and strives to create a democracy that is truly of all people, by all people, and for all people.
The Students Learn Students Vote Coalition (SLSV) shares a similar commitment to nonpartisanship, guiding its interactions with colleges, universities, faculty, administrators, students, community organizations, and local leaders. The SLSV Coalition does not support or oppose any political party or candidate, encouraging individuals and organizations to become politically active while remaining nonpartisan.
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