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Judge Upholds Attorney General’s Ballot Title for California Voter ID Measure

The ruling affirms the AG’s rewrite that says the amendment would bar votes without government-issued ID, a change that could reshape how Californians view Proposition 39.

Assembly Member Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, speaks during a floor session at the state Capitol last year. DeMaio, a sponsor of Prop. 39, did not indicate he would appeal Thursday's rulings, but issued a statement after the hearings denouncing “liberal judges” for giving in to “California’s corrupt politicians.”
Voters waiting in line at a polling place in Culver City, California, during a statewide election.
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaking at a press conference with the Hollywood sign in the background, Image 2 shows Voters cast ballots at individual voting booths during a primary election

Overview

  • A Sacramento Superior Court judge rejected a legal challenge on Thursday and found Attorney General Rob Bonta’s certified title—“Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification”—to be an accurate and lawful summary of Proposition 39.
  • Proposition 39 would require in-person voters to show government-issued ID and would require mail voters to write the last four digits of that ID on the outside of their ballot envelope.
  • In a separate hearing sponsors agreed to remove claims that the measure would make voting easier, protect privacy, or save millions after a judge tentatively found those statements were misleading.
  • The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office has estimated implementation would cost the state tens of millions to the low hundreds of millions of dollars and would require new steps for county election officials.
  • The dispute has intensified partisan debate and could affect turnout because public support is sensitive to framing, as shown in UC Berkeley polling that found majority support for a simple ID rule but reversed when respondents heard counterarguments.