Add The California Post on Google Voter ID is crucial to restoring public trust in our democratic process.
That’s why I encourage all Californians to vote yes on Proposition 39 this November and restore confidence in our elections.
“Every vote matters” may be a cliché — but it’s true.
Attendees hold “Voter ID” signs during a news conference with Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California at the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters in Norwalk. Bloomberg via Getty Images In 2024, Orange County Republican Rep. Michelle Steel was defeated by 653 votes. In the Central Valley, Republican Congressman John Duarte was defeated by an even smaller margin: just 187 votes.
At a time when the control of the House of Representatives hangs in the balance by a razor-thin margin, just a few votes can shift the balance of power in Congress and in our country.
There is no way to know definitively if the outcome of these elections would have changed if we had a voter ID requirement in place for these contests.
But I do know Californians would have had greater confidence in the result if we had stronger election integrity measures in place, including voter ID.
Voters stand in long lines to cast their ballots in the Proposition 50 special election on redistricting at the West Haven Park voting center in Garden Grove. MediaNews Group via Getty Images That is why I have been a leading advocate to put voter ID on the ballot in November. Earlier this year, the group Californians for Voter ID successfully turned in 1.3 million signatures to get Prop. 39 on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Yet Democratic politicians in Sacramento and across the nation are quick to diminish efforts to strengthen the integrity of our elections.
Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom dismissed election security concerns, saying “Voter fraud is extremely rare — and almost always committed by US citizens.”
Just days later, the Democratic governor of New Jersey announced 6,600 noncitizens were found on the blue state’s voter rolls. Even more alarming, New Jersey said 400 noncitizens have illegally cast ballots to vote in recent elections.
While the two sides may disagree on just how “rare” voter fraud is, there’s widespread agreement that we should take reasonable steps to secure our elections — which are foundational to our democracy.
Voter ID has broad, bipartisan support because voters view it as a common-sense step to secure our elections. In fact, voter ID requirements are already in place in some fashion in 36 states.
What’s more, Americans use their ID in life all the time, which is why few view this requirement as an extreme idea.
Of course, radical Democrats in Sacramento feel otherwise and are trying to place their thumb on the scale as voters prepare to cast ballots this November.
Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta rewrote Prop. 39’s title and summary language that will appear on the ballot, deliberately making the initiative sound nefarious.
These edits come after Bonta had approved more straightforward language earlier in the process, and after 1.3 million Californians signed petitions containing the original language.
Clearly, the left can only win the argument by fearmongering.
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Bonta and Newsom continue to spout the same old tired talking points we’ve heard for years against voter ID. They claim the requirement would disenfranchise legal voters, especially minorities, and keep them from participating in our elections.
But poll after poll shows that voters know better. Majorities of Hispanic and African American voters back Voter ID.
Americans are accustomed to using their ID on a routine basis — when they take a flight, buy alcohol, open a bank account or rent a car, among other activities.
That’s why most people think showing ID when casting a ballot in our democracy is a reasonable safeguard in our election process.
Democrats have also said that providing proof of citizenship to register to vote — another election integrity reform in Prop. 39 — would disenfranchise voters, including minorities and married women who have changed their names.
We know it’s a red herring because more than 130 million Americans have obtained a REAL ID.
Every day throughout our country, Americans provide proof of their citizenship without incident.
It is disingenuous and insulting to imply that certain Americans are incapable of obtaining an ID, when ID is required for the most basic functions in our society.
Any Californian who cares about the security of our elections should reject these false arguments and dirty tactics by voting yes on Prop 39.
Let’s stop arguing about how much fraud exists — because even small amounts of fraud can impact a close election — and start agreeing to secure our balloting.
Rep. Ken Calvert represents the 41st Congressional District as is running for election in the newly drawn 40th Congressional District.
