Our Vote Is Our Voice: Why the November Election Matters to California’s Arab Community

By Fatmeh Atieh Bakhit

Alenteshar newspaper- Los Angeles

Septembe 28,2026

On November 3, Californians will go to the polls to elect representatives and decide on ballot measures that affect people’s daily lives. These elections matter to the Arab community. Their outcomes may affect health care, housing, education, voting rights, and policies that touch immigrants and working families.

Every Arab American citizen who is eligible to vote has a voice worth hearing. Voting gives us an opportunity to influence government decisions and bring our community’s concerns to elected officials. When more people participate, it becomes harder for decision-makers to ignore their needs.

Ballot measures that touch important issues

California’s ballot includes measures addressing issues that matter to many Arab American families, though their effects will vary. Proposition 1 authorizes bonds for affordable housing programs, an issue that matters to families facing rising rents and difficulty finding suitable homes. Proposition 3 extends an existing tax on high incomes to provide permanent funding for schools and health care.

Proposition 4 would repeal the prohibition on public funding of election campaigns. This raises questions about who can participate in political campaigns and how campaigns are funded. Proposition 44 would require community health clinics to spend 90% of their revenue on patient services and programs. Supporters say it would direct more resources to patient care; opponents warn it could put financial pressure on some clinics and threaten the services they provide. Voters should review the arguments on both sides and consider how the measure could affect clinics and the communities that rely on them.

The ballot also includes measures that raise questions about environmental protections, taxes, and voting requirements. A short headline or social media post is not enough. We should read the official measure summaries, learn who supports and opposes each proposal, and find out who is funding those campaigns.

One issue that deserves special attention is the set of changes affecting Medi-Cal, California’s health coverage program for people with low incomes. As of January 1, 2026, certain adults without an immigration status that qualifies for federally funded full-scope coverage can no longer newly enroll in full-scope Medi-Cal. The state says people who already have full-scope coverage can keep it as long as they renew on time and continue to meet the eligibility rules.

Other federal changes are set to take effect over time. California’s Department of Health Care Services estimates that about two million Medi-Cal members are at risk of losing coverage because of federal changes. These include work, school, or training requirements for some adults beginning in 2027, as well as six-month eligibility reviews for some groups. These changes could affect many families across California.

When we discuss health care, we are talking about people’s ability to see a doctor, get medication, care for children and older adults, and manage chronic illnesses. Voters should ask candidates and elected officials: How will you protect access to care? How will clear information reach families in the languages they speak? What will you do to ensure eligible people do not lose coverage because of confusing procedures or a missed renewal notice?

Immigration, detention, and deportation

Many immigrant families are worried about detention and deportation policies and the expansion of fast-track removal procedures. Deportations to “third countries” have also raised serious concerns when people are sent to countries where they have no ties, may know no one, and may not speak the language.

Dina, the wife of Anas Salameh, said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained him for about a year and a half. She said he was later told he would be deported to a third country and was then sent to Malaysia, a country of which he is not a citizen. According to Dina, Anas remained stranded at the airport for more than two months. He was not allowed to enter the country and had no money; some travelers gave him money and other help.

His story, as recounted by his wife, highlights the human cost of sending people to countries with which they have no connection. It raises questions about whether people facing deportation are told where they are being sent, given a meaningful chance to challenge the decision, and treated with dignity.

On September 18, a federal appeals court largely upheld a ruling against a policy allowing rapid deportations to third countries without giving people a meaningful opportunity to raise safety concerns. The legal case is ongoing.

These issues do not affect immigrants alone. They affect families and the communities where people live, as well as their sense of safety and their ability to work and seek services. Voters have a right to know where candidates stand on immigration enforcement, detention, due process, and protecting families from separation.

Confronting racism and misinformation

During times of political tension, misinformation and stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims can spread. People may be targeted because of their names, religion, clothing, skin color, or physical features. Wearing hijab or having darker skin, brown eyes, or other features does not change the fact that Arab Americans and Muslims are part of this society. They share its rights and responsibilities and contribute to its communities every day.

Civic participation can help push back against exclusion. It also requires us to check information before sharing it, distinguish facts from claims, and speak out against hate and discrimination. Freedom of expression must be part of this discussion, including freedom of the press, the right to express opinions and protest peacefully, and the right to advocate for Palestinian and Arab rights without intimidation or discrimination.

Don’t leave the decision to others

The November 3 election is an opportunity to express our priorities, hold officials accountable, and call for fairer policies. Registered voters in California can vote by mail, vote early, or cast a ballot at a polling place. The deadline to register online to receive a ballot by mail is October 19. After that date, eligible voters can register and vote on the same day at a county elections office or polling location.

Let’s read our ballots, talk with our families and neighbors, and help anyone who needs to find a polling place or learn how to vote. Our votes will not solve every problem on their own, but they give us an important way to defend our interests, rights, and children’s future.

Voting is one way to say that we are here—and that the concerns of the Arab community deserve to be heard and taken seriously.