(The Center Square) – California Republican lawmakers launched a ballot measure that would require voter ID identification for counted ballots, and the verification of the citizenship status of individuals registering to vote.
It’s unclear how this measure would impact San Francisco, where noncitizens are able to register to vote for school board elections.
Last year, after the city of Huntington Beach adopted a voter ID requirement for municipal elections, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning voter ID requirements. The court system has thus far upheld Huntington Beach’s requirement, though state officials have an ongoing appeal to a higher state court.
The ballot measure was launched by state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, and Assemblyman Carl Demaio, R-San Diego, who serves as chair of Reform California, the political group organizing the initiative.
“Public trust in our elections in California is at an all-time low – and the best way to restore confidence that our elections are done fairly and properly is to impose a Voter ID requirement and hold elections officials accountable for maintaining accurate voter rolls,” said DeMaio in a statement.
The petition would have to collect at least one million verified signatures to make it on the 2026 ballot.
