SACRAMENTO, CA — California voters rejected Proposition 39 Tuesday night, 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. with 49% of votes counted.
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.
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.
The Secretary of State and Patch will update the results throughout the night as votes are tallied, and the page will be refreshed for the latest updates. Scroll through the graphic for real-time statewide Proposition results.
Can't see the results? Click here for all November 3, 2026 California statewide ballot measure results.
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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