Native American voting access still hindered six years after California law

Six years after California passed a law mandating the secretary of state to create an advisory committee to enhance voting access for Native Americans, the committee has not been established, Palo Alto Online reported.

The secretary of state's office confirmed to CalMatters and ICT that the advisory committee remains unformed, despite the legal requirement.

Advocates have highlighted ongoing challenges such as distant polling locations and unreliable mail service that continue to obstruct Native American voters.

The lack of the advisory committee means efforts to address these barriers have not been formally coordinated as intended by the law.

This issue directly affects Native American communities in California, including those in the San Jose area, as voting access remains a concern.