By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber will host an event on Aug. 25 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 – landmark federal legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices and expanded ballot access nationwide.

The program will feature a panel discussion examining both the historic passage of the act and its modern-day impact on elections, with particular attention to California’s role in advancing voting rights. The event will also include a special exhibit curated by the California State Archives, a division of the Secretary of State’s office.

Organizers said the commemoration will provide an opportunity to reflect on how far the nation has come since 1965 while acknowledging that the work of ensuring equal access to the ballot continues.

Civic leaders, scholars, and community advocates are expected to attend.

The in-person gathering will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the California Secretary of State Auditorium, 1500 11th St. in Sacramento.

Registration is open to the public at http://bit.ly/3IICCGh.

The Voting Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, prohibited literacy tests, poll taxes, and other measures that suppressed voter participation, particularly among Black Americans in the South. Its enforcement provisions reshaped voting protections in states such as California, which later expanded access through reforms like early voting, same-day registration, and automatic voter registration.

This anniversary comes as several states have enacted new voting laws that critics say disenfranchise voters.

California officials, however, have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining broad access to the polls, emphasizing that the principles of the 1965 law remain vital to democracy.

For additional information or to request assistance, email SOSOutreach@sos.ca.gov

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