California’s Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law to ban voter ID requirements for elections in the state.
The legislation was introduced by Democrat State Sen. Dave Min (D-Orange County).
Under the new law, local governments are prohibited from requiring residents to present identification to vote in elections.
The legislation is a direct response to a ballot measure approved this year by voters in Huntington Beach.
The ballot measure passed a law that required people to show photo identification at the polls.
“The Republican-led city, whose leaders often tussle with Sacramento Democrats, has maintained that its status as a charter city gives it home rule over elections administration,” Politico reported.
“But Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber aren’t buying it: The officials sued Huntington Beach in April to invalidate the law, arguing it interferes with state voting rights protections.”
California is one of 14 states that does not require voter ID at the polls.
However, Californians still need to show ID if they want to drive a car, board a plane, or rent an apartment in the state.
In an April statement coinciding with the state’s lawsuit against election security, California AG Bonta said:
“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy and Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy flies in the face of this principle.”
As Politico notes further, Min’s legislation is one of several election-related bills introduced by Democrat state lawmakers over the past year.
State Democrats insist that their anti-election security bills seek to protect poor disenfranchised voters.
According to Democrats, minorities don’t have the resources or brainpower to obtain an ID but they want to participate in elections.
However, critics argue that the only people who are not able to produce ID to vote are those who are not legally allowed to cast a ballot, such as illegal aliens.
“The changes aim to prevent Huntington Beach, Shasta County, and other conservative local governments from establishing election policies that are often driven by suspicions of voter fraud,” Politico added.
“Legislation from state Sen. Steve Bradford, signed into law Wednesday, clarifies record-keeping procedures for secure elections data and increases the secretary of state’s regulatory power over poll books and other voting systems used in local elections.”
Last year, local officials in Shasta County, CA attempted to get rid of electronic voting machines.
They were unsuccessful in their attempts, however.
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