California Proposition 39: Voter ID and citizenship verification
What it does. Today California voters establish their identity with their signature. Proposition 39 would require voters to present government-issued ID to vote in person, and to write the last four digits of a selected government-issued ID number on the envelope when voting by mail. The state would provide a voter ID card at no cost to voters who request one. Elections officials would have to make “best efforts” to verify citizenship of registered voters, and the State Auditor would audit compliance every odd-numbered year. [1]
Official ballot question. Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification. Initiative constitutional amendment. [1]
If you vote yes
A YES vote on this measure means: Voters would be required to present additional identifying information to elections officials each time they vote. [1]
If you vote no
A NO vote on this measure means: A voter’s identity would continue to be established with the voter’s signature. [1]
What it would cost
The Legislative Analyst says Proposition 39 “would increase state and local government costs each year by tens of millions of dollars to low hundreds of millions of dollars,” less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the state’s General Fund budget. The exact cost depends on future decisions, such as the design of the voter ID card and how many cards are requested. [1]
Both sides
Strongest case for
The official argument in favor, signed by the Democratic, Republican and Independent coalition chairs of Californians for Voter ID, calls voter ID “a common-sense reform to increase trust and participation in our elections,” and says almost half of the signatures to qualify it came from Democratic and Independent voters. [3]
They argue it would fix a weakness in signature checks: “In the last election, more than 100,000 ballots were rejected due to signature mismatches.” They say the measure guarantees every voter a free ID on request and that “states with voter ID laws have not seen decreases in voter participation.” [3]
They also point to the citizenship and audit provisions: “Election officials will also be required to check voter rolls to ensure only citizens are registered,” and the measure “requires an independent audit be conducted every two years.” [3]
Strongest case against
The official argument against, signed by the heads of ACLU California Action, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters of California, says mail voters “would have to include a personal ID number on their ballot envelope that has to exactly match state records. Get one digit wrong, and a valid ballot could get thrown out.” [3]
They also raise privacy: the measure “will make every vote by mail voter include their personal details on their return envelope—making voters easy targets for identity theft.” They say voters would have to choose between voting and protecting their privacy. [3]
They argue a free ID is not cost-free for voters, who still pay for “transportation, time off work, and costs like childcare or getting required documents,” and that “Seniors, students, low-income workers, voters of color, and the millions of women who changed their names at marriage are hit hardest.” [3]
What neither side is saying
Context that bears on what this measure does or who it affects but that the arguments above do not address. These are sourced facts, not arguments for or against the measure.
- Key details would be left to the Legislature. The Legislative Analyst says the measure “requires the Legislature to pass additional laws to implement the measure,” including which forms of identification could be used and what steps would count as best efforts to verify citizenship. [1]
Editorial context, not the opinion of We Elect. Each point is a fact we found in a source we opened and read; where sources disagree or data are missing, we say so. How we choose these.
Follow the money
Contributions reported by committees registered to support or oppose Proposition 39. Major donors are those who gave $100,000 or more; where fewer than three did, up to five of the largest listed donors giving $5,000 or more are shown.
Supporting (Yes)
Total raised $39,540,775
Committees
- Californians for Voter ID, Yes on 39 $32,752,568
- Reform California with Carl DeMaio $6,788,207
Major donors
| Richard Uihlein | $17,000,000 |
| Joseph Gebbia | $8,000,000 |
| Reform California with Carl DeMaio - Ballot Measure Committee | $3,103,480 |
| Nicole Shanahan | $370,000 |
| Perfect One Capital | $300,000 |
Donors shown gave 73% of this side’s total.
Opposing (No)
Total raised $33,277,742
Committees
- No on 39 - Block Election Rigging $15,180,879
- United Against Prop. 39 -- Stop the Rig $10,570,661
- No on Prop 39 - Californians for Voting Rights $4,796,353
- Communities for an Affordable California Yes 3, No on 39, and 43 $2,338,429
- Working Families for a Better Central Coast - Yes on Prop 3, No on Prop 39 $291,759
- Black Californians for Thriving Communities - Yes on Prop 3, No on Props 39 & 43 $220,000
- Working People in Supporting of Prop 3 and in Opposition of Prop 39, 43 and 45 $100,000
- Citizens for a Just California - No on Prop 39 $50,000
- Californians for Yes on 3 and No on 39 $20,000
- No on Prop 39 - Voteriders Committee $1,420
Committee figures do not add up to the side total; the total shown is the one the source reports.
At least one of these committees also campaigns on California Proposition 3, so its money cannot be split by measure.
Major donors
| California Democratic Party | $10,106,701 |
| California Nurses Association Initiative PAC | $2,000,000 |
| The Tribal Council of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria | $2,000,000 |
| M. Quinn Delaney | $1,500,000 |
| Patty Quillin | $1,500,000 |
| SEIU California State Council for Working People | $1,071,815 |
Reported contributions through Oct. 22, 2026, as compiled by Ballotpedia from state filings; the source lists each side’s top donors, not every donor. Figures are reported contributions and may be updated as new reports are filed. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. Official filings: California Secretary of State, Cal-Access.
Sources
- Proposition 39 ballot analysis — California Legislative Analyst’s Office (Official fiscal analysis, 2026)
- California Proposition 39 (2026) — Ballotpedia (Reference (quotes supporters and opponents), accessed 2026-10-28)
- 2026 General Election Official Voter Information Guide (title and summary, official arguments and rebuttals) — California Secretary of State (Official state voter guide, 2026)
Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Last reviewed 2026-10-28. How we write both sides.
We Elect is a Brunner Creative site. Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Each side is written to be the strongest case its supporters would recognize, and every claim is tied to a source we opened and read.