ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Applauds Defeat of Prop 39

SAN DIEGO – This election reaffirmed the power of people coming together to defend our democracy and the values we share. When the federal government sought to undermine voting rights and intimidate voters, Californians stood firm. And when asked to pass Prop 39 and add unnecessary hurdles to exercising the right to vote, California voters sent a resounding message to those who tried to roll back voting rights: hands off our elections.

ACLU-SDIC Executive Director Norma Chávez-Peterson said:

“Yesterday, California voters showed up at the polls to protect their voting rights and reject an anti-democratic agenda — and they succeeded. Prop 39 has been defeated, but the fight to protect our constitutional rights is far from over.

 

The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties will continue to monitor reports of election intimidation and interference, challenge efforts to suppress votes or undermine the will of voters, and defend our constitutional right to vote.

 

Defending our democracy and protecting our rights are shared responsibilities that require collective strength and coordination, ongoing partnership and the willingness for all of us to remain engaged beyond Election Day.

 

Let’s keep moving forward together. ¡Adelante!”

The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties extends its gratitude to the volunteers, poll workers, legal observers, county election officials and community partners who worked to protect our democratic process. We also thank every person in San Diego and Imperial counties who cast their ballot and made their voice heard in the 2026 midterm election.

Now that the polls have closed, every eligible voter’s ballot must be counted, every lawful result must be respected, and election officials must be able to carry out their duties free from coercion or political pressure.

The obstacles ahead are too massive for any single organization to dismantle alone. The strength of our defense depends entirely on the depth of our collaboration and coordination.

We urge the public to get involved in our year-round fight to defend civil rights and civil liberties in our region. Learn more at aclu-sdic.org.