Overview
- The lawsuit, filed Monday, was brought by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and the Yes on 39 campaign in Sacramento County Superior Court and names Secretary of State Shirley Weber as a respondent.
- Proposition 39 would require government-issued ID for in-person voting, require a four-digit number tied to an ID on mail ballots, and direct state and county officials to maintain accurate voter rolls and verify citizenship.
- Supporters say the AG’s July 3 rewrite that reads “Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification” is misleading because it omits the ballot’s voter-roll and citizenship-verification provisions and frames the measure as a ban rather than a verification rule.
- The Attorney General’s office says post-qualification edits to titles and summaries are routine, is reviewing the petition, and expressed confidence the court will find the revisions lawful.
- The case has immediate political stakes because campaigns on both sides are fundraising and publicizing positions, the plaintiffs are asking for an expedited decision by Aug. 10, and a court ruling could be appealed before voter information is printed.