CLAIM: CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SIGNS LAW THAT BANS ANY VOTER ID REQUIREMENT at polling locations in California.
CONCLUSION: California passed a law prohibiting local governments from establishing their own rules requiring voter ID in elections, that would be conflicting to existing laws. This means they must adhere to existing state laws, not impose new ones. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025, after the upcoming November presidential elections.
On September 29, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill No. 1174 into law, which prohibits local governments (those governing specific cities or regions within California) from imposing voter ID requirements in local elections. This does not mean that voter ID requirements were banned for the November 2024 elections in general, nor does it change state policy for national or statewide elections. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025, after the upcoming November presidential elections.
This legislation was introduced in response to local efforts, such as in Huntington Beach, where the city attempted to impose voter ID requirements for municipal elections. The law does not affect national and statewide elections, as California remains one of 14 U.S. states that do not require ID for voting.
In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber filed a lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach in April, arguing that the local regulation violated state laws protecting voting rights. The argument is that local governments cannot set different election rules than those enforced statewide.
In California, voters can vote by mail, at special voting centers, via early voting, or at the polls, where voters provide their driver’s license number, state ID number (for those without a driver’s license), or the last four digits of their social security number, thus not needing to show a physical ID on election day.
Conclusion
California passed a law prohibiting local governments from establishing their own rules requiring voter ID in elections, enforcing compliance with existing state laws rather than imposing new ones. This legislation was a response to initiatives like that in Huntington Beach, where local authorities tried to enforce voter ID in municipal elections. California is already one of 14 U.S. states where ID is not mandatory for voting. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025, after the upcoming November presidential elections.