California Leaders Endorse Voter ID Initiative

A coalition of Californians is mobilizing to gather 1 million signatures ahead of the 2026 election to qualify for a statewide constitutional amendment aimed at implementing an initiative requiring voters to present ID during elections in the state.

This coalition comprises elected officials from local, state, and federal levels, alongside various campaign committees.

Supporters of the voter ID proposal

claim

that requiring identification helps to prevent in-person voter impersonation. Critics argue that such fraud is rare and that ID requirements may restrict voting rights, introduce unnecessary costs, and create administrative challenges for election officials.

Teresa Hernandez, Chair of the Orange County Lincoln Club, a network of California donors, asserts that the initiative offers a straightforward solution.

“Every individual should possess some form of government-issued ID, whether it’s a driver’s license or an ID card from the DMV,” she stated in an interview with The Epoch Times on Wednesday.

According to the proposed rule, voters would present their ID when voting in person, while those voting by mail would include the last four digits of their driver’s license or social security number on their mail-in ballot. Hernandez believes this measure will help restore voter confidence.

“I understand there will be objections or some opposition,” Hernandez said. “Some commonly cited reasons are that not everyone has access to an ID or can afford one.”

She pointed out that social security cards can be obtained free of charge and that DMV-issued IDs come with a minimal fee.

“Without some form of ID, you cannot fly, enter government buildings, or cash a check at a bank—there are numerous activities in the United States that require identification.”

Currently, 36 states have some form of voter ID requirement. Some demand non-photo IDs and provide alternatives for voters without identification. Many states, as well as Washington D.C., use different methods to verify voter identities, such as signature matching against official records.

California State Assemblyman Bill Essayli concurred that implementing Voter ID would bolster voter confidence.

“There is an alarming lack of confidence in our electoral processes, and establishing a Voter ID law should be viewed as a practical bipartisan remedy to this issue,” Essayli, who represents District 63 and chairs Common-Sense California, said in a

statement

on March 11.

U.S. Representative Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) also expressed his support.

“Introducing Voter ID is a sensible approach to enhancing election security, which is why it garners substantial backing from Democrats, Republicans, and independents across California. By adopting a Voter ID initiative in California, we can instill greater trust in our elections without unduly limiting voter access,” he remarked in a statement on March 11.

In a poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and commissioned by supporters of the California voter ID initiative, it was found in late January that 68 percent of voters support a voter ID law, including 93 percent of Republicans, 70 percent of Independents, and 52 percent of Democratic voters.

In February 2024, PEW

reported

similar findings—95 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats support the use of photo ID for voting. The PEW survey also revealed that 82 percent of voters favor requiring paper ballot backups for electronic voting machines, 81 percent back the requirement of government-issued photo IDs to vote, 72 percent support designation of Election Day as a national holiday, and 69 percent endorse the right to vote for convicted felons who have completed their sentences.