California Voter ID Initiative Advances

Activists in United States===California are pushing for a Republican-backed voter ID ballot initiative, having submitted 1.3 million signatures to qualify it for the November ballot. The initiative would require voters to show ID at polls and mail-in voters to provide the last four digits of a government-issued ID. Supporters, including Reform California and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, argue it ensures election integrity, citing a Institute of Governmental Studies poll showing majority support. Opponents, such as the League of Women Voters of California and the California Labor Federation, claim it would suppress voter turnout, particularly among poor, Black, and Latino voters, and is unnecessary given the rarity of voter fraud. They also link the initiative to Donald Trump's similar nationwide voter requirements. If approved, the initiative is estimated to cost state and local governments tens of millions of dollars to implement. The campaign has raised $10 million, primarily funded by Julie Luckey.