SACRAMENTO, CA — A new publication from the California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) examines Proposition 39, a measure on the November ballot that would establish new voter identification and citizenship verification requirements in California and impose additional responsibilities and costs on state and local election officials.
The analysis finds that Prop. 39 would create unnecessary barriers for millions of eligible California voters, including people who lack an up-to-date driver’s license or other qualifying identification. The measure would also require voters who cast ballots by mail to write the last four digits of a unique identifying number from a government-issued ID on the outside of their ballot envelope, potentially increasing the risk of identity theft. In addition, Prop. 39 would require election officials to use “best efforts” to verify the citizenship status of registered voters using government data — a process the report finds could incorrectly flag eligible US citizens and potentially result in voters being removed from the rolls.
“Prop. 39 would impose new and costly requirements on California voters and election officials without actually addressing a real problem,” said Scott Graves, budget director at the California Budget & Policy Center. “California already has in place strong safeguards to verify voter identity and protect the integrity of elections. Adding new requirements would make it harder for eligible Californians to vote while creating new costs for the state.”
The report places Prop. 39 in the broader context of efforts to restrict voting rights and considers what is at stake when barriers to voting limit participation in elections. Voting gives Californians a voice in public policies that affect their lives and communities, including decisions about how public resources are raised and spent. The report highlights the historical connection between democratic participation and taxation and argues that policies that make it harder for people to vote can also limit the ability of communities — particularly young people, people with low incomes, and people of color — to have a say in decisions about public investments and taxes.
“When you make it harder to vote, you make it harder to have fair representation or a say in decisions that shape your community — like how tax dollars get raised and spent,” added Graves.
Who’s At Risk
The report shows that about 2.7 million voting-age Californians who are US citizens do not have a driver’s license, while more than 3 million have a driver’s license that is expired, from another state, or lacks updated information. Nearly one-quarter of voting-age Californians without a driver’s license also lack a California state ID card. The measure could disproportionately affect people of color, young people, people with lower incomes, and people with disabilities, who are less likely to have a driver’s license. Prop. 39 would also impose substantial costs on state and local governments, with the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimating annual costs could range from tens of millions of dollars to low hundreds of millions of dollars. The measure provides no new revenue to pay for these expenses.
The analysis also finds that Prop. 39’s citizenship verification requirements could incorrectly flag eligible US citizens due to errors, inconsistencies, and outdated information in government databases. Voters whose citizenship is mistakenly called into question could face burdensome processes to correct their records and could potentially lose their ability to vote if they fail to resolve the issue before an election. More broadly, requiring identifying information on ballot envelopes could increase the risk of identity theft and potentially discourage Californians from using the state’s most common method of voting.
Rather than creating additional barriers to voting, the report identifies ways California can strengthen voter participation and improve the election process. These include exploring options for moving toward automatic voter registration, providing dedicated funding for voter outreach and engagement, supporting civic education, and investing in county election offices and systems that could help accelerate ballot counting while maintaining election security and voter access.
California voters will decide on Proposition 39 in November. The Budget Center’s analysis provides information on the measure’s proposed requirements, potential impacts, and fiscal implications to help Californians understand the choices before them.
To view the full publication and additional analyses, visit www.calbudgetcenter.org/resources/.
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About the California Budget & Policy Center:
The California Budget & Policy Center (Budget Center) is a nonpartisan research and analysis nonprofit advancing public policies that expand opportunities and promote well-being for all Californians. The Budget Center does not endorse or oppose ballot measures.
