Voter ID, billionaire tax top crowded ballot for California voters

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Supporters of a ballot measure that would require voter ID for Californians make a plain argument — showing identification to vote enhances public trust in elections.Proposition 39 would create a photo ID requirement to vote in person. People voting by mail would have to provide the last four digits of a government-issued ID number. Anyone would be able to ask for and receive a voter ID from the state at no cost.It’s one of 14 ballot measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. Others include the imposition of a one-time tax on billionaires. Another would tweak how the state handles recall elections.The voter ID measure has taken center stage for many in a midterm election cycle that features a gubernatorial race and new congressional districts for the Golden State.Supporters of Proposition 39 have argued that the expansion of mail-in voting and automatic voter registration has endangered public trust in elections. State Senator Tony Strickland, a Huntington Beach Republican and co-author of the ballot measure, told Courthouse News that democracies don’t work without election integrity.Also, supporters of the voter-initiated measure argue an ID already is required at airports and for alcohol sales. Requiring it at the polls makes sense.“It’s 8 in the morning,” Strickland said in a recent interview. “I’ve already used [my ID] once this morning.”Strickland called California an outlier, as it’s only one of 14 states that has no voter ID requirement. California compares voter signatures as part of its verification process, but Strickland argued people’s signatures change over time.He said support for the measure came from every county, beating a deadline to place it on the ballot by weeks.However, Strickland acknowledged the headwinds the proposition faces. A poll released last month by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed people opposing the voter ID measure 52% to 39%. It trailed by only nine points six weeks before that poll.Strickland said one reason for that is a change made to the title and summary by the attorney general’s office.“Of course, it’s going to be dropping drastically,” he said of perceived support. He claimed Attorney General Rob Bonta uses positive language for ballot measures he supports and negative language for those he doesn’t.Initially, the title and summary stated the proposition “establishes additional voter identification and citizenship verification requirements.” Bonta’s office changed it to “prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification.”A judge in August found the new language “sufficient.”For Assemblymember Gail Pellerin — a Santa Cruz Democrat and former elections official — the purpose of Proposition 39 is to make voting more difficult.“We already verify voters when they register,” she told Courthouse News.Pellerin said people show an ID when registering to vote. Their signatures are checked with one on file when they vote, and officials reach out to them if they don’t match.Transparency and trust in elections is essential, Pellerin said. That’s why as an elections official she would recruit people who questioned election security as poll workers. They’d then learn how votes are received and the checks and balances that exist.“I turned around a lot of people just by having them be part of the team,” Pellerin said.The Democratic lawmaker said opponents have argued the ease of showing ID to vote. She cast a wider view, saying efforts are occurring nationwide to derail elections.If Proposition 39 becomes reality, it’ll take longer to count ballots and will disenfranchise people, especially those with disabilities, she said.“I don’t think this is the direction California wants to go."But some political observers say Proposition 39 would have little effect if passed.For Lisa Bryant, a political science professor at California State University, Fresno, audits have shown that few noncitizens vote in American elections.“I think it’s a solution in search of a problem,” she opined.Bryant sees it as a wedge issue or good talking point for politicians. However, she said evidence of widespread election problems doesn’t exist.Kimberly Nalder, a political science professor at Sacramento State, called it fascinating that illegitimate claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens have been legitimized by a ballot measure. That’s especially true in a state like California.“And there’s no evidence of it happening,” she added.James Adams, a professor at UC Davis’ political science department, said Proposition 39 serves as a hot-button issue. Like his counterparts, he sees little issue with election integrity. Supporters argue it’s a bipartisan issue, which Adams said they must. California is a heavily blue state. Any ballot measure favored by conservatives must have bipartisan support.But like Bryant, Adams questioned whether it’s a real problem.“All the research suggests no,” he added.Voter ID looms large over the midterms, though Proposition 40 — dubbed by many the “billionaire tax” — has sharply divided the Democratic Party.If passed, the measure — placed on the ballot by voters — would impose a 5% one-time tax on certain taxpayers with assets over $1 billion. Supporters point to President Donald Trump and his Big Beautiful Bill, which they say slashed healthcare funding. Opponents call the measure a scheme that will hurt the economy and create a loophole that puts all Californians at risk of higher taxes.Proposition 39 has much clearer lines for voters who look to elected leaders for guidance. Proposition 40 is muddied, as Governor Gavin Newsom opposes while other Democrats have expressed support, Adams said.“The Democratic Party is not providing a clear cue as to where to come down on this one,” he added.Bryant questioned whether California billionaires would leave the state if Proposition 40 passed, as some opponents have argued. She pointed to some studies that indicate taxes on high-income earners don’t lead to a massive exodus. Or billionaires might leave the state, while keeping the jobs they support here.Bryant sees strong rhetoric for both high-profile propositions. She said there’s no evidence millions of noncitizens vote illegally, as well as little indication a billionaire tax would have a large impact on most Californians’ lives.Despite that belief, people opposed to Proposition 40 have placed two measures on the November ballot that would nullify the billionaire tax if it passes. However, Propositions 41 and 42 would need to garner more votes than the billionaire tax to void it.Proposition 41 would require the state auditor to review a proposed special tax before it reaches voters. Proposition 42 would prohibit new taxes on personal property.Opponents called both a billionaire-funded trick to undo Proposition 40.A measure that hasn’t drawn as much attention is Proposition 5, placed on the ballot by the Legislature. It would change how recall elections are conducted. Instead of one election determining whether an official is recalled and their replacement, two separate elections would occur — one to recall and another to replace.Nalder said she believes the existing recall system is weaponized. Passing this measure would lead to fewer recall attempts.She also noted that the existing recall system in 2003 put Arnold Schwarzenegger in the governor’s office. He beat 134 other candidates.“Gray Davis was not fun,” she quipped of the ousted governor.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads