Prop 39: Voter ID
Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification
Initiative Constitutional Amendment. A change to the California Constitution that voters put on the ballot by signing petitions.
In plain English
Today, in-person voters typically sign a list, and mail voters sign their ballot envelope. Under Proposition 39, in-person voters would show government-issued ID. Mail voters, new and current, would pick a government-issued ID in their registration and write its last four digits on the envelope. If the digits are missing or do not match, the ballot would not count. The state would give voters who ask a free voter ID card. Officials would make best efforts to check citizenship. The State Auditor would review compliance every odd-numbered year. The Legislature would set details by law. State and local costs would rise by tens of millions to low hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Exact costs depend on future choices.
A YES VOTE MEANS
Voters would be required to present additional identifying information to elections officials each time they vote.
A NO VOTE MEANS
A voter's identity would continue to be established with the voter's signature.
Official Spanish text from the California Official Voter Information Guide.
Source: official voter guideOfficial ballot label
The exact words on your ballot. Tap to read.
PROHIBITS CITIZENS FROM VOTING UNLESS THEY PRESENT GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Invalidates mail ballots that do not have last four digits of designated government-issued identification number written on envelope. Prohibits in-person voting without presenting government-issued identification. Fiscal Impact: Costs of between tens of millions of dollars and low hundreds of millions of dollars each year to implement new voting requirements.
Source: LA County Registrar, measures on the ballot
Official text in English. Read the official Spanish voter guide.
Official arguments
Written by supporters and opponents and printed in the official state voter guide, word for word. Arguments printed on this page are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.
Official text in English. Read the official Spanish voter guide (PDF).
Argument for
By supportersSigned by Margit Whitlock, Tafa Jefferson, and Joe Green. Tap to read.
VOTER ID: A BIPARTISAN WAY TO INCREASE TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS
Democratic, Independent, and Republican voters all agree on one thing: Voter ID is a common-sense reform to increase trust and participation in our elections. That's why almost half the signatures to put Prop. 39 on the ballot came from Democratic and Independent voters and polls show widespread super-majority support across all political parties for Voter ID.
PROP. 39 KEEPS VOTING ACCESSIBLE AND GUARANTEES A FREE VOTER ID
Prop. 39 keeps mail ballots, extended polling hours and all other conveniences in place for voting accessibility.
Voters can use a variety of easily-obtained government IDs to vote - and this measure even guarantees every voter a FREE Voter ID if they want one.
California currently uses a slow process to check signatures on mail ballots that not only delays election results but also puts your vote at risk of not being counted if your signature is flagged as not matching. Many voters say they cannot always remember how they signed their name years ago when they first registered to vote. In the last election, more than 100,000 ballots were rejected due to signature mismatches - and more than 200,000 voters endured hassles just to get their vote to count.
VOTER ID INCREASES PARTICIPATION
Voter ID does not suppress voting - in fact it increases voter participation. Every state with Voter ID laws and free identification for eligible voters that cannot afford or access identification, has seen an increase in voting. Suppression and lower turnout happen when voters do not have trust and confidence in the integrity of the process. Voter ID gives all voters a reason to trust that their vote will matter.
PROP. 39 INCLUDES AUDITS AND CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION
Prop. 39 holds election officials accountable for keeping California's voter lists accurate and updated. Election officials will also be required to check voter rolls to ensure only citizens are registered. Prop. 39 requires an independent audit be conducted every two years to give the public the confidence they deserve in the way our elections are conducted.
YES ON PROP. 39: FOR A NON-PARTISAN SOLUTION TO VOTER ID
Politicians and partisan organizations who oppose Prop. 39 are desperately trying to inject toxic partisanship into this debate. That's because they benefit from unfounded election conspiracy theories and rapidly declining trust in our elections.
In contrast, supporters of Prop. 39 include solid majorities of Democratic, Republican and Independent voters and a diverse coalition including Latino American Political Association, California Women's Leadership Association, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the Transparency Foundation, and trusted voting rights organizations. Vote YES on Prop. 39 to create a national model for implementing Voter ID in a bipartisan way.
Margit Whitlock, Democratic Coalition Chair
Californians for Voter ID
Tafa Jefferson, Republican Coalition Chair
Californians for Voter ID
Joe Green, Independent Coalition Chair
Californians for Voter ID
Reply to the argument for
By opponentsSigned by Alex Padilla, Catherine Kennedy, and Adam Weinberger. Tap to read.
NO on PROP. 39 - Stop Trump from rigging our elections. Don't believe the lies. Prop. 39 MAKES VOTING HARDER, MORE EXPENSIVE, AND LESS SAFE for Californians.
PROP. 39 IS FUNDED BY MAGA RIGHTWING BILLIONAIRES. Follow the money. MAGA billionaires have spent millions spreading election lies. Republican operatives have pushed this voter suppression agenda for years. They want Trump to have unlimited power so they get more tax breaks for the rich while cutting funding to healthcare and schools for the rest of us.
California election officials already verify voters. Prop. 39 just ADDS EXTRA HURDLES for citizens. THE FACTS DON'T LIE. When Texas tried this, they threw out 12 times more mail ballots than California.
Prop. 39 creates new threats of identity theft. No citizen should have to choose between their privacy and their right to vote.
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office found that Prop. 39 could COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS EACH YEAR - read it for yourself. MAGA extremists want to use your taxpayer dollars to buy Trump an expensive gift: blocking eligible voters and giving the Big Lie a win in California. We won't fall for it.
PROP. 39 TRIES TO DISTRACT US from how Trump and his billionaire friends have failed Americans. Hospitals are closing. Fire victims are still waiting for help. Groceries and housing costs are more expensive than ever. Now they want to use Prop. 39 to control our elections and avoid accountability.
NO KINGS. NO LIES. NO PROP. 39.
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator for California
Catherine Kennedy, President
California Nurses Association
Adam Weinberger, President
California School Employees Association
Argument against
By opponentsSigned by David Trujillo, Darius Kemp, and Lorrel Plimier. Tap to read.
VOTE NO. Donald Trump lies about elections and uses those lies to grab power.
STOP TRUMP'S POWER GRAB. Trump wants revenge on California - he has delayed LA wildfire relief, undone laws to keep our air and water clean, and constantly attacked our immigrant friends and neighbors. Now he wants to undo our freedoms and democracy with Prop. 39. Trump's cronies want to rig California elections so they can seize and keep control of Congress and the White House. Trump will do whatever it takes to tear apart our right to vote, dodge accountability, and hold onto authoritarian power.
CALIFORNIANS WON'T FALL FOR IT. We have a chance to fight back and stop Trump by voting NO on Prop. 39. Don't let California become the next state where politicians pick which voters count.
WASTES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
Trump and his accomplices want California to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to chase their election lies and conspiracy theories. Californians are struggling, and Trump wants YOU to pay for his conspiracies.
PUTS YOUR IDENTITY AT RISK. Prop. 39 will make every vote by mail voter include their personal details on their return envelope - making voters easy targets for identity theft. Voters would have to choose between voting and protecting their privacy.
BLOCKS CITIZENS FROM VOTING. Prop. 39 adds new hurdles - 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. If you don't take extra steps to tell officials which ID you want to use for voting - you may not get a mail ballot at all. And if the address on your ID is not up to date or your name is misspelled - your vote might be rejected.
PUSHES OUT VOTERS. "Free" state IDs aren't free: voters still pay for transportation, time off work, and costs like childcare or getting required documents. Seniors, students, low-income workers, voters of color, and the millions of women who changed their names at marriage are hit hardest. These unfair barriers help politicians choose their voters instead of the other way around.
TRUMP LIES TO GRAB POWER. DON'T LET THOSE LIES TAKE AWAY YOUR VOTE.
PROTECT YOUR VOICE. PROTECT YOUR VOTE. VOTE NO.
Learn more at CAforVotingRights.org
David Trujillo, Executive Director
ACLU California Action
Darius Kemp, California State Director
Common Cause
Lorrel Plimier, Co-President
League of Women Voters of California
Reply to the argument against
By supportersSigned by Johnathan Hale, Cynthia Kaui, and Ed Cervantes. Tap to read.
PROP. 39 IS BIPARTISAN - NOT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP OR GAVIN NEWSOM
Prop. 39 gives California a bipartisan solution for election security. While politicians in D.C. fight over partisan control of elections, Californians can adopt our own solution: Voter ID. Opponents will claim this measure is about Donald Trump or Gavin Newsom. It isn't. Prop. 39 is a California solution to growing mistrust in our elections. Democrats, Republicans, and Nonpartisans encourage you to reject the big-money partisan allegations and vote yes on Prop. 39 to encourage voter participation and protect our elections.
PROP. 39 IMPROVES ELECTION MANAGEMENT
Prop. 39 improves the accuracy of our voter lists and requires independent audits to strengthen election management.
VOTER ID INCREASES TRUST IN ELECTIONS
States with voter ID laws have not seen decreases in voter participation. When voters trust elections, participation increases.
YES ON PROP. 39
Opponents will claim this is about national politics or that Voter ID suppresses voters. Don't be fooled. Prop. 39 is supported by Democrats, Republicans, and Nonpartisans, as well as men, women, young, and old - Californians across many communities.
If you believe California should strengthen trust in elections while keeping voting accessible for eligible voters, vote YES on Prop. 39 for a clean, bipartisan California solution.
Johnathan Hale, Executive Director
The Transparency Foundation
Cynthia Kaui, Executive Director
California Women's Leadership Association
Ed Cervantes, President
Latino American Political Association
Where groups stand
Every group on our list, by category. Each position links to the group's own published guide.
Label definitions Quotes are each group's own words, copied exactly.
Political parties
10 groups
State and county parties are separate groups and can take different positions.
American Independent Party
No position
American Independent Party Their guide, checked Oct 15, 2026California Democratic Party
No
Their words: "Proposition 39: Oppose"
California Democratic Party Source, checked Oct 15, 2026California Republican Party
Yes
Their words: "Prop 39: support"
California Republican Party Source, checked Oct 15, 2026Green Party of California
No
Their words: "NO on Prop 39: Voter ID Requirement"
Green Party of California Source, checked Oct 15, 2026Green Party of LA County
No
Their words: "Oppose - Proposition 39 - Voter Suppression"
Green Party of LA County Source, checked Oct 15, 2026LA County Democratic Party
No
Their words: "STATEWIDE Prop 39 Prohibits Citizens From Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. NO"
LA County Democratic Party Source, checked Oct 15, 2026LA Hispanic Republican Club
No position
LA Hispanic Republican Club Where we looked, checked Oct 18, 2026Libertarian Party of California
No
Their words: "Voter ID & Citizenship Verification ❌ NO"
Libertarian Party of California Source, checked Oct 15, 2026Peace and Freedom Party
No
Their words: "Proposition 39 - NO - would require voters to present government-issued identification"
Peace and Freedom Party Source, checked Oct 18, 2026Republican Party of LA County
Yes
Their tool lists: Prop 39: YES
Republican Party of LA County Source, checked Oct 15, 2026
News outlets
5 groups
These are the only news outlets we found with published endorsements for this election. Suggest another.
Knock LA
No
Their words: "State Measure 39: No"
Knock LA Source, checked Oct 18, 2026La Opinión
No position
La Opinión Their guide, checked Oct 18, 2026Los Angeles Daily News
Yes
Their words: "Proposition 39: Yes"
Los Angeles Daily News Source, checked Oct 15, 2026Los Angeles Sentinel
No
Their words: "Prop 39 | NO"
Los Angeles Sentinel Source, checked Oct 18, 2026Los Angeles Times
No position
Los Angeles Times Where we looked: LA Times editorials page, checked Oct 18, 2026
Labor
9 groups
California Labor Federation
No
Their words: "Prop 39: Prohibits Citizens From Voting Unless They Present ID Recommend: OPPOSE"
California Labor Federation Source, checked Oct 15, 2026California Teachers Association
No
Their words: "Proposition 39 - Voter ID Oppose"
California Teachers Association Source, checked Oct 15, 2026LA County Federation of Labor
No
Their words: "Prop 39: Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present ID - No"
LA County Federation of Labor Source, checked Oct 15, 2026LA County Firefighters Local 1014
No position
LA County Firefighters Local 1014 Their guide, checked Oct 18, 2026LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council
No
Their words: "2026 NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS | PROP. 39 Voter Identification Requirement OPPOSE"
LA/OC Building and Construction Trades Council Source, checked Oct 18, 2026Los Angeles Police Protective League
No position
Los Angeles Police Protective League Where we looked, checked Oct 18, 2026SEIU Local 721
No
Their words: "39 Voter Identification, Citizenship Verification, and Registered Voter List Administration Initiative OPPOSE"
SEIU Local 721 Source, checked Oct 18, 2026UNITE HERE Local 11
No
Their words: "Proposition 39: Prohibits Citizens From Voting Unless They Present ID | Recommend: NO"
UNITE HERE Local 11 Source, checked Oct 18, 2026United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
No
Their words: "NO | Prop 39 | Increase barriers to voting"
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) Source, checked Oct 18, 2026
Business
3 groups
BizFed (LA County Business Federation)
No position
BizFed (LA County Business Federation) Where we looked, checked Oct 18, 2026CalChamber
No position
CalChamber Their guide, checked Oct 15, 2026LA Area Chamber of Commerce
No position
LA Area Chamber of Commerce Their guide, checked Oct 18, 2026
Civic and good government
1 group
League of Women Voters of California
No
Their words: "Prop 39 is a partisan power grab to further President Trump's voter suppression efforts."
League of Women Voters of California Source, checked Oct 15, 2026
Issue and advocacy groups
3 groups
Abundant Housing LA
No
Their words: "PROPOSITION 39 | PROHIBITS CITIZENS FROM VOTING UNLESS | STAFF RECOMMENDATION: NO"
Abundant Housing LA Source, checked Oct 18, 2026LA Forward
No
Their words: "Proposition 39 - Voter IDOppose | LA Forward urges you to Vote No on Prop 39."
LA Forward Source, checked Oct 18, 2026Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
No
Their words: "Proposition 39 - Voter Identification | Oppose"
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter Source, checked Oct 18, 2026
Official links
About the summary
Summary drafted with AI from the official analysis and checked against it by automated review. Read the official analysis