California’s voter ID ballot measure would add unnecessary barriers to a secure system

CalMatters is publishing commentary opposing California's Proposition 39, a ballot measure that would require in-person voters to show government-issued ID, or ask mail-in voters to provide their ID number for verification. The argument: it's redundant. California already requires proof of citizenship and ID information during voter registration. More importantly, who gets hurt? Over one in four Latino adults and forty-one percent of young voters aged eighteen to twenty-four lack a current driver's license with their name and address on it — meaning eligible Californians could face real barriers at the ballot box. Yes, proponents cite election security, but the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice found voter fraud at levels of zero point zero zero zero three to zero point zero zero two five percent — virtually nonexistent. And implementation could cost California anywhere from tens of millions to hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. Come November, voters will decide whether to erect new barriers to solve a problem that barely exists.

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