No, California isn’t banning voter ID

A local government’s foray into requiring voter ID has led to misleading claims about state policy

The Civic Listening Corps was formed in January 2022 to give communities across the country the tools and training needed to identify and fight the misinformation we see online every day. Our goal is to use the knowledge we gather together to prevent further attempts to undermine our civic discourse.

By subscribing to our reports, sharing this post, or directing your friends and family to civiclistening.org, YOU can make a difference against the spread of online misinformation.

Recently, social media posts have been circulating claims that California plans to ban voter ID requirements entirely across the state. However, this is not accurate.  

Recently, Huntington Beach voters narrowly approved a ballot measure to implement voter ID requirements in municipal elections. In response to Huntington Beach's decision, state Senator Dave Min introduced Senate Bill 1174 to clarify that charter cities cannot impose voter ID laws. Min emphasized the state's role in setting election laws and noted no evidence of voter fraud to justify such measures. Article 1 Section 4 Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to manage their elections and set specific requirements. State law does not mandate ID for most elections, so this bill ensures that local jurisdictions cannot impose such requirements. 

Min’s proposed bill is in response to the local measure in Huntington Beach – not a statewide ban on voter ID requirements. California’s constitution requires voters to be U.S. citizens but does not require proof of citizenship when registering.

Sen. Min argues that voter ID laws can restrict access to voting, particularly for seniors, people of color, young individuals, and other historically marginalized groups. He cites California's success with universal mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence that such restrictions are unnecessary. The American Civil Liberties Union and the California Secretary of State’s Office also support the bill, highlighting the rarity of voter fraud and the existing measures ensuring election integrity.