California · November 3, 2026 · Initiative Constitutional Amendment

Proposition 39: Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification.

Amends the constitution to require voters to present a government-issued ID to vote in person (or ID digits when voting by mail), and requires election officials to verify citizenship attestations using government data.

The official ballot language

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: California Secretary of State

What your vote does

A YES vote

A YES vote on this measure means: Voters would be required to present additional identifying information to elections officials each time they vote.

A NO vote

A NO vote on this measure means: A voter's identity would continue to be established with the voter's signature.

Source: Ballotpedia

What's actually in it — provision by provision

Propositions bundle things together. Here is every operative provision, separately:

Requires voters to present government-issued photo ID when voting in person, or provide ID digits when voting by mail; ballots are counted only after identity verification.
Basis: Ballotpedia: in-person voters present government-issued ID; mail voters provide digits of a designated government ID number; ballots counted only after identity verification.
Requires election officials to verify voters' citizenship attestations using government data and report verification rates annually.
Basis: Ballotpedia: officials must use best efforts to verify citizenship attestations using government data and annually report verification rates.
The state must provide a free voter ID card on request to any eligible voter.
Basis: Ballotpedia: state must provide a free voter ID card on request to any eligible voter.

Arguments, both sides

In favor

“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.”
— Yes on Prop. 39 campaign (Official Voter Information Guide argument) [source]

“Voter ID is simply a common-sense policy. California needs to modernize its elections to align with the vast majority of the world's democracies.”
— Julie Luckey, director of Californians for Voter ID [source]

Against

“No on Prop. 39. 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.”
— No on Prop. 39 campaign (Official Voter Information Guide argument) [source]

“This voter ID measure is not about protecting voters; it is about importing the current federal administration's election lies and intimidation tactics into California.”
— Jenny Farrell, executive director of the League of Women Voters of California [source]

Who's funding each side

Support: $30.7M · Oppose: $15.8M

As of Reports through September 19, 2026; next filing deadline October 22, 2026.

Top supporters: Richard Uihlein; Steve Bray; Nicole Shanahan; Ken Calvert for Congress; Tony Strickland for Senate 2026

Top opponents: The Tribal Council of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria; M. Quinn Delaney; Patty Quillin; SEIU California State Council for Working People; California Democratic Party

Source: Ballotpedia campaign finance