Republican initiative for voter ID in California gathers enough support for ballot measure

"Republican organizers in California announced they have gathered enough signatures to place a measure that would require California voters to present identification every time they vote and for election officials to verify that registered voters are US citizens on the ballot this November. Proponents of the measure announced that they have collected 1.3 million signatures on a petition to put the issue onto ballot for a vote in the midterm elections, surpassing the 874,641 signatures needed under California state law."

"Under the current law, Californians are not required to show or provide identification when casting a ballot in person or by mail. They are, however, required to provide identification when registering to vote. Voters must also swear under penalty of perjury—a felony—that they are a US citizen eligible to vote."

"California's ballot measure coincides with a national push from Republicans to tighten voting eligibility. In February, the House passed the Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship at voting registration and significantly inhibit mail-in voting. After passing 218 to 213 in the House, the legislation has since been held up in the Senate."

Republican organizers in California have collected sufficient signatures to place a ballot measure requiring voter identification and citizenship verification on the November ballot. The measure would mandate that California voters present identification when voting in person or by mail, and require election officials to verify registered voters are US citizens. Currently, California voters are not required to show identification when casting ballots, though they must provide identification during voter registration and swear under penalty of perjury that they are eligible US citizens. The campaign, led by Republican state assemblymember Carl DeMaio and funded largely by Julie Luckey, raised nearly $10 million. This effort aligns with a broader Republican national push to tighten voting eligibility requirements, including the House-passed Save America Act.

Read at www.theguardian.com