Backers of a proposed ballot initiative to require government ID to vote have just gotten state approval to start gathering signatures.
A group called Reform California, run by conservative radio host Carl DeMaio, is sponsoring the initiative but did not respond to requests for comment. Its website cites concerns about voter fraud.
Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director at California Common Cause, said cases of voter impersonation are infinitesimal – and voter ID requirements hurt the approximately 10% of Californians who don’t have a driver’s license or state ID card.
“You would be solving a ‘problem’ that doesn’t really exist,” said Stein. “So you’re not gaining much. But you are putting barriers in front of young voters, older voters, voters with disabilities and low-income voters. The tradeoffs are not worth it.”
The proposal would also add requirements around maintenance of voter rolls – verification of ballot signatures and audits of the election process.
California already has extensive security measures in place to match voters’ addresses and signatures with those on file, and noncitizens cannot vote.
Stein said a bill on voter ID is introduced in almost every legislative session.
“It never goes anywhere, and because it’s bad policy, and not good for voters,” said Stein. “And I think the proponents are sick of losing in the Legislature and have decided to take this to the ballot.”
Voters have put Democrats in control of California’s executive and legislative branches.
The Reform California website states that so-called “election integrity” measures are necessary to achieve backers’ long-term goal to retake power at the state level.
Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
