California Republicans Attempt to Place Voter ID Initiative on 2026 Ballot

California Republicans, led by State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) are gathering signatures for a 2026 initiative that would require voter ID at the polls. The measure would also ensure that all registered voters in the state are U.S. citizens.

The effort comes after DeMaio authored a voter ID bill earlier this year, which died in the Assembly Elections Committee. Prior to the 2024 election, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill prohibiting local governments from requiring identification to vote. Democratic politicians have long recited talking points claiming that voter ID laws unfairly burden black and Latino voters.

Though California is a solidly blue state, its initiative process sometimes allows its voters to circumvent the legislature on issues where they hold more conservative views. An April 2025 poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed that 71% of Californians, including 59% of Democrats, support requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Polls also show a large minority of voters still undecided on Gov. Newsom’s Proposition 50, a November 2025 measure that would allow the state legislature to gerrymander its congressional map.

Assemblyman DeMaio is seeking to collect 1 million signatures for the voter ID initiative, via his organization Reform California. He views it as a first step for revitalizing the California GOP, which has no power in the state legislature due to the Democrats’ supermajority.

Prior to 1992, California consistently voted Republican in presidential elections. High levels of immigration, as well as a suburban leftward shift, transformed the state’s politics. Making the Republican Party competitive in the state again is a long-term project, but undoubtedly possible with the right grassroots efforts.

President Donald J. Trump, for his part, stated on August 30th that he was planning on issuing an executive order requiring voter ID nationwide, in addition to restricting mail-in voting. In addition to not requiring voter ID, California automatically issues mail-in ballots to every voter in the state, a COVID-era change that the state made permanent in 2021.