California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative (2026)

California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Citizenship voting requirements and Election administration and governance
Status Cleared for signature gathering
Type Initiated constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens

The California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative (#25-0007) may appear on the ballot in California as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.

Measure design

See also: Text of measure

The initiative would add a new section to the California Constitution to require government-issued identification to vote in person or the last four digits of a unique government-issued identifying number with a mail-in ballot. The amendment would require the state to provide upon request and at no charge a voter ID card for use in casting a ballot. The initiative would also require the secretary of state and county election officials to maintain accurate voter registration lists, including verifying citizenship attestations and reporting the percentage of voter rolls that have been citizenship-verified.

The amendment would authorize the California State Legislature to enact laws to implement and ensure state and local compliance with the amendment. The amendment would allow citizens to seek judicial review and remedy of the state's or any county's compliance with the amendment. The amendment would also require the California State Auditor to audit state and county compliance, publicly report its findings, and make recommendations to improve the integrity of elections every odd-numbered year.

Currently, California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title is as follows:

“

Establishes additional voter identification and citizenship verification requirements. Initiative constitutional amendment.

”

Petition summary

The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets is as follows:

“

Under current law, when registering to vote, individuals must state under penalty of perjury that they are United States citizens and provide information to verify their identity (e.g., birthdate, driver’s license or Social Security number). This measure would amend the California Constitution to further require that: voters present government-issued identification at the polls or the last four digits of a government-issued identification number when voting by mail; the State provide voter identification cards on request; and elections officials annually report percentage of each county’s voters whose citizenship they have verified.

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article II, California Constitution

The ballot measure would add a Section 3.1 to Article II of the California Constitution. The following underlined text would be added:

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

(a) The Secretary of State, and county elections officials, shall each have the duty to maintain accurate voter registration lists, shall use best efforts to verify citizenship attestations using government data, and shall annually report what percentage of each county’s voter rolls have been citizenship-verified.

(b) Each time a voter casts a ballot in person in any election in the State, the voter shall present government-issued identification, or if voting by mail, the voter shall provide the last four digits of a unique identifying number from government-issued identification that matches the one designated by the voter for their voter registration. The type of identification designated by each voter must be indicated in their voter registration record, noted on the mail ballot envelope provided to them, and available to them on request by phone or electronically. Election officials shall only count a regular or provisional ballot after verifying the identity of the person voting pursuant to the requirements of this section, and verifying that the person has cast only one ballot in the election. Government-issued identification means documentation that allows conclusive verification of the voter’s identity. Upon request by an eligible voter, the state shall provide, at no charge, a voter ID card for use in casting a ballot.

(c) This section shall be self-executing. The Legislature shall also promptly enact laws to implement this section, provide for voting by military and overseas voters consistent with federal law, and ensure that all State and local officials comply and support the compliance with this section. Citizens may seek judicial review and remedy of the State’s or any county’s compliance with this section. During every odd-numbered year, the State Auditor shall audit the State’s and each county’s compliance with this section and report its findings and recommendations for improving the integrity of elections to the public.

Full text

The full text of the initiative can be read here.

Support

Reform California, led by State Asm. Carl DeMaio (R-75), is sponsoring the initiative.

Supporters

Officials

• U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R)
• State Rep. Carl DeMaio (R)
• State Rep. Bilal Essayli (R)

Arguments

• State Rep. Carl DeMaio (R-75): "Politicians and the media will keep denying the fact that California has real problems with election integrity, but the message from the public is loud and clear in support of requiring Voter ID as the best way to restore public trust and confidence in our elections."
• Julie Luckey, director of Californians for Voter ID: "Thirty-six states in the U.S. have implemented some form of voter identification requirement. Similarly, every country in Europe mandates that in-person voters present photo ID to cast their ballots. This practice is also standard in Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and many other nations worldwide, spanning both developed and developing democracies. ... 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. While our state leads in so many areas, it lags behind on this issue. It’s time for California to catch up and enact voter ID laws."

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not located a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2026

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 31, 2025. The deadline for the next scheduled reports is March 31, 2026.

Reform California with Carl DeMaio registered in support of the initiative. The committee reported over $3.6 million in contributions. Ballotpedia has not identified any committees registered in opposition to the initiative. If you are aware of a committee, please email the committee link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$3,605,294.10	$33,447.82	$3,638,741.92	$2,317,463.05	$2,350,910.87
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$3,605,294.10	$33,447.82	$3,638,741.92	$2,317,463.05	$2,350,910.87

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure.

Committees in support of Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Reform California with Carl DeMaio	$3,605,294.10	$33,447.82	$3,638,741.92	$2,317,463.05	$2,350,910.87
Total	$3,605,294.10	$33,447.82	$3,638,741.92	$2,317,463.05	$2,350,910.87

Donors

The following were the top donors who contributed to the support committee.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Henry Matson	$27,085.23	$0.00	$27,085.23
Kathleen Flynn	$25,000.00	$0.00	$25,000.00
Kathryn Starr	$25,000.00	$0.00	$25,000.00
Charles Wood	$20,000.00	$0.00	$20,000.00
William Sheffler	$20,000.00	$0.00	$20,000.00

Background

Voting in California

Voter registration

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and a California resident, not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony, and not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Verification of citizenship

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of October 2025, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

Voter identification requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases.

On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

The following list of accepted ID to comply with HAVA requirements was current as of October 2025. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

”

Voter list maintenance in California

When names can be removed from the voter list

California law authorizes county election officials to remove individuals from the voter registration list if the individual:

• Makes a written request to be removed
• Is declared mentally incompetent by a court
• Is incarcerated in a state or federal prison for conviction of a felony
• Dies
• Is determined to be registered to vote in a different state
• Is proven to be ineligible to vote
• Remains on the inactive voter list through two federal general elections.

Inactive voter list rules

California law requires county election officials, 90 days before a primary election, to mail a nonforwardable postcard to each registered voter in the county unless they have voted in an election held within the past six months or updated their registration in the last year. If the postcard is returned as undeliverable, then county officials are to place the voter on an inactive list and send them a forwardable notice. Inactive voters do receive election-related materials from election officials and are not included in official calculations for signature requirements and other election administration procedures. Voters who remain on the inactive voter list by not responding to address verification notices or by not voting through the next two federal general elections are to be removed from the voter registration list. An inactive voter may be added back to the active voter list by updating their registration status or by voting.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in California

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. The requirements to get initiated constitutional amendments certified for the 2026 ballot:

• Signatures: 874,641 valid signatures are required.
• Deadline: The deadline for signature verification is June 25, 2026. However, the secretary of state suggested deadlines for turning in signatures of January 12, 2026, for initiatives needing a full check of signatures and April 17, 2026, for initiatives needing a random sample of signatures verified.

Initiative #25-0007

• July 16, 2025: The initiative was filed by State Rep. Carl DeMaio (R) and State Sen. Tony Strickland (R).
• September 19, 2025: The initiative was cleared for signature gathering.
• October 21, 2025: The secretary of state reported the committee had collected 25% of the required number of signatures.
• Reform California, the campaign behind the initiative, announced that it had collected over 750,000 signatures.

See also

2026 measures

• 2026 ballot measures
• Voter ID policy on the ballot
• Citizenship voting requirements on the ballot

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• #25-0007

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