Voter intimidation, unfortunately, is nothing new. I saw it 37 years ago, on Election Day in 1988, when I was an Assistant U.S. Attorney on duty at a local polling place. A person dressed as a police officer, carrying a large sign that said “Non-Citizens May Not Vote,” was questioning a Latino couple and asking for proof of citizenshipas they approached the polling station. I called the FBI, and it turns out this bad actor wasn’t acting alone – he was part of an orchestrated effort to intimidate Latino voters at 20 polling locations across Santa Ana.
The candidate who was the beneficiary of this racist and illegal effort went on to narrowly win the election, and that moment ultimately shaped my career and my commitment to protecting every American’s fundamental right to participate in our democracy.
Today, we are facing a similar and no less serious threat. The Trump administration’s ICE raids have had a devastating impact on thousands of people here in Orange County and across California. Images of masked ICE agents arresting or harassing community members simply because of their language, skin color or occupation as they go about their daily lives – including U.S. citizens and legal residents – has created a real and understandable fear among too many of our families, friends, neighbors and communities. This intimidation campaign has deterred kids from going to school, kept families from attending church, and stopped workers from doing their essential jobs.
Adding to this heightened state of fear, President Trump now plans to send federal poll watchers to California to “monitor” the election. Given his record of trying to overturn legitimate elections and spreading false accusations about undocumented Latinos voting, his intentions are clear: to control and suppress the vote. Combined with Republicans’ reckless and debunked rhetoric about widespread voter fraud, these actions are a thinly veiled attempt to justify the sort of voter intimidation that you see in authoritarian regimes around the world.
As we approach our next Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, we cannot allow these intimidation tactics to prevent Californians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
A recent article from the Daily News underscores this exact fear, particularly among Latino and immigrant populations, about the safety of showing up at the polls amid ICE’s ongoing raids. In fact, two out of three U.S.-born, registered Latino voters in a recent California survey said they were concerned about encountering immigration enforcement agents at a polling location in next week’s election.
To be clear: Legal U.S. citizens fear that simply going to a polling place could put them at risk of physical harm or unlawful detention.
Thankfully, in California, we have a safeguard.
Every California voter has the option to vote by mail, enabling them to participate in elections without fear of intimidation from federal agents or everyday bad actors – a protection that was codified in 2021 to expand voter participation and strengthen integrity in elections. Since then, millions of Californians have safely and securely cast their ballots from home. This protection is more important than ever in the face of extreme intimidation tactics by the current administration.
For those who are concerned that going to the polls could put their own safety or that of their loved ones at risk, mail-in voting represents an important and modern solution for this moment.
As for those who feel strongly about voting in person, when you head to the polls next week, please know your rights, stay alert, and report any intimidation or illegal activity that you may witness. Every Californian has a role in protecting our democracy,
The right to vote is fundamental, and we must continue to ensure that it is accessible and safe for everyone.
Thomas J. Umberg represents the 34th Senate District