Politics & Government
CA Prop. 39 Results: Voters Reject Voter ID Law, AP Projects
Voters have had their say on Proposition 39, which would require government-issued identification at the polls and mail-in ballots.
SACRAMENTO, CA — Ballots continued to be counted on Thursday, but California voters appeared to have rejected Proposition 39, the ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to require government-issued identification at the polls and the last four digits of a unique government-issued identifying number on mail-in ballots.
The Associated Press called the race at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday with 49% of votes counted. As of Thursday morning, the AP estimated 62% of all ballots were counted.
Can't see the results? Click here for all November 3, 2026 California statewide ballot measure results.
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The results here will be continually updated as the Secretary of State releases new data and the page will be refreshed for the latest updates. Scroll through the graphic for real-time statewide Proposition results.
If approved, Proposition 39 would require voters to present government-issued identification when voting in person, although the measure does not specifically require photo identification. Voters casting mail-in ballots would have to provide the last four digits of a government-issued identification number designated in their voter registration records. The state would also be required to provide free voter identification cards upon request.
Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Election officials would be required to verify a voter's identity before counting a regular or provisional ballot. The measure would also require state and county election officials to use their best efforts to verify voters' citizenship attestations through government data and annually report the percentage of each county's registered voters whose citizenship has been verified.
For supporters, Prop. 39 is a "commonsense" method of preventing voter fraud by verifying voters' identities and reforming a system they view as lax and inefficient.
Opponents say it would create needless bureaucratic hurdles to voting, especially for marginalized groups. They call it a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression.
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