California Voter Guide Includes Language on Proposition 39 Amid Online Criticism

<p>A California ballot measure on voter identification, known as Proposition 39, includes language that has drawn attention online for its political tone. The measure is a citizen-led initiative organized by a group called Californians for Voter ID, which submitted 1.3 million signatures in March, surpassing the required nearly 875,000 signatures for it to be placed on the ballot.</p><p>Californians are scheduled to vote on the voter ID initiative in November. If approved, it would mandate a government-issued identification card or number to vote in person or by mail, and require election officials to verify U.S. citizenship.</p><p>The language opposing the measure in the California voters guide has been criticized for its political nature. The arguments against Proposition 39 state, "This would advance Trump’s voter suppression agenda by adding costly, unnecessary barriers that could block eligible California voters, expose personal information to identity theft, and waste hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars." It concludes with a statement urging voters not to let "MAGA billionaires" decide which voters count.</p><p>Opponents of the measure include the ACLU California Action, Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters of California.</p><p>The summary section of the ballot measure outlines the expected financial impact, estimating costs between tens of millions and low hundreds of millions of dollars annually to implement the new voting requirements.</p><p>A section titled "What Your Vote Means" explains that a "YES" vote would require voters to present additional identifying information to elections officials each time they vote, while a "NO" vote would mean a voter’s identity would continue to be established with their signature.</p><p>Supporters of the measure include the Transparency Foundation, Latino American Political Association, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Their argument section states, "Yes on Prop. 39 gives California a BIPARTISAN solution for VOTER ID, supported by a solid majority of Democratic, Independent, and Republican voters. Increases trust and confidence in our elections."</p><p>A Pew Research study released in 2025 indicated that 83% of Americans support voter ID laws.</p><p>As early voting begins in California, Election Day on November 3 approaches. If Proposition 39 passes, voters would need to present a government-issued ID when voting in person, while mail-in voters would provide the last four digits of a government-issued ID number that matches their registration. The measure would also require election officials to verify U.S. citizenship using government data and publish annual reports on the percentage of registrations verified for citizenship in each county. The California State Auditor would conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with the new requirements.</p><p>Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom's office for comments but did not receive a response by the time of publication.</p>