Palm Springs, CA

Californians will vote this November on a constitutional amendment that would require identification to cast a ballot in state elections, one of 14 statewide measures set to appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Proposition 39, known as the Voter Identification, Citizenship Verification, and Registered Voter List Administration Initiative, qualified for the ballot in April after organizers submitted more than 962,000 valid signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office, according to state election officials. The measure was spearheaded by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, following an earlier legislative attempt that did not advance out of committee in 2025.

What the Measure Would Do

If approved, Proposition 39 would amend the state constitution to require voters to present a government-issued photo ID when voting in person at a polling place. Voters who cast mail-in ballots would instead need to provide the last four digits of a government-issued identification number, such as a driver’s license number.

The measure also directs the state to issue free voter ID cards to any registered voter who requests one, so that the requirement does not create a cost barrier to voting. Additionally, it would require election officials to verify the citizenship status of registered voters and mandate more frequent maintenance of voter registration lists by the Secretary of State and county election officials.

Current Law

California currently requires residents to provide identification and a Social Security number when registering to vote, and voters must attest under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens. However, the state does not currently require voters to show ID at polling places or when submitting a mail-in ballot.

If passed, California would join 36 other states that currently have some form of voter identification requirement, according to Ballotpedia. California would also become the 10th state where voters approved a voter ID measure directly through the ballot initiative process, rather than through legislative action.

Broader Context

The measure arrives amid a broader national debate over voter identification requirements. At the federal level, proposed legislation known as the SAVE Act, which would impose a nationwide voter ID requirement, has passed the U.S. House of Representatives but has not advanced in the Senate.

Proposition 39 is one of 14 statewide propositions California voters will consider this November, alongside measures addressing taxation, housing construction and health care.

Additional details on the measure, along with arguments from supporters and opponents, are available through the Secretary of State’s official voter guide ahead of the November election.