By Michael R. Blood
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A proposal that would require California to verify proof of citizenship when a person registers to vote — and require voters to provide identification at polling places — will appear on the November ballot, state officials announced.
The announcement comes amid a national debate over election security and what type of requirements voters should face to show they are qualified to cast a ballot. In Congress, Republicans are pushing a strict proof-of-citizenship proposal for residents to vote, encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Voter ID laws are frequently seen as having a negative impact on minority turnout. Studies show that African Americans and other minorities often encounter challenges such as discrimination, financial constraints and lack of access to documentation and transportation — all which can hinder their ability to comply with these laws, according to Lawshun, a legal affairs website.
As a result, voter ID requirements have been accused of suppressing minority turnout, raising concerns about their potential to undermine democratic participation and exacerbate existing inequalities in the electoral process, the website said.
The California plan — also backed by Republicans — is being pitched as a common-sense idea to strengthen confidence in voting in a vast state with more than 23 million people registered to cast a ballot. State officials said its backers submitted sufficient petition signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
“We already show ID for everyday activities like flying, opening a bank account and picking up prescription medications. Thirty-six other states and many countries around the world already use voter ID,” said state Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach.
“Californians deserve secure, transparent elections,” added Strickland, a proponent of the proposal.
If approved in November, other provisions would require those who vote through popular mail-in ballots to give the last four digits of a government-issued ID, such as a Social Security number.
California is among 14 states and the District of Columbia that do not require voters to show some form of identification at the polls or to register to vote.
While California at times has faced questions from critics about the legitimacy of its vote tallies, research shows voter fraud in the country is rare. Voting by noncitizens has occurred, but reviews of state cases have shown it to be uncommon and typically a mistake rather than an intentional effort to sway an election.
Most California residents vote by mail, and in the pursuit of accuracy, thoroughness and counting every vote, the nation’s most populous state has gained a reputation for tallies that can drag on for weeks — and sometimes longer.
The effort to tighten restrictions on voter registration and mail ballots will come in a critical election year, when Californians will be picking their next governor and with control of Congress on the line.
Opponents argued that such requirements make it more difficult for people to vote, especially the elderly, those with disabilities and those without driver’s licenses.
Trump continues to claim that he won the 2020 presidential election — and has long falsely said the election was marred by widespread fraud. Those claims were rejected by dozens of judges, including several he appointed. His own attorney general found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have changed the results. Multiple reviews, audits and recounts in battleground states confirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s victory, including several overseen by Republican lawmakers.
Michael R. Blood writes for the Associated Press. Wave staff and Associated Press writer Trân Nguyễn also contributed to this report.
