Voter ID backers lose court fight after accusing California AG of trying to ‘rig’ vote

California voter ID backers lost a court fight Thursday to block Attorney General Rob Bonta’s controversial rewrite of their initiative’s ballot language, fueling fresh accusations that state officials are trying to “rig” the vote.

A Sacramento Superior Court judge rejected a lawsuit challenging the ballot title Bonta’s office crafted for Proposition 39, clearing the way for the Yes on 39 campaign to argue the description is deliberately designed to scare voters.

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), who has spearheaded the Prop. 39 campaign, blasted the decision and accused state officials of trying to manipulate voters.

“California politicians know that a supermajority of California voters support Prop 39’s bipartisan solution for Voter ID — so now they are corruptly trying to rig the election by putting a biased and dishonest title on this common-sense measure,” DeMaio said in a statement.

“So instead they’re trying to deceive voters by putting a false ballot title on it and are now even distracting voters from their tampering of the ballot title with this frivolous lawsuit.”

When supporters gathered more than 1.3 million signatures to qualify Prop. 39 for the November ballot, its title said the measure “establishes additional voter identification and citizenship verification requirements.”

Bonta’s office changed the language to say: “Prohibits citizens from voting unless they present government-issued identification.”

The Yes on 39 campaign sued, arguing the new wording is inaccurate and violates California law requiring the attorney general to “give a true and impartial statement of the purpose of the measure.”

The judge disagreed, finding the ballot description accurate and Bonta’s actions legal.

“Today’s ruling confirms what we have said from the start: the ballot materials at issue — the ballot title and summary and ballot label — give a true and impartial statement on Proposition 39’s chief purpose and points,” Bonta said in a statement. 

“My office followed the law and fulfilled its duty to provide California voters with clear, accessible, and accurate information. We’re pleased that the court agreed with us.”

The ballot measure fight has already resulted in millions being raised and spent and is expected to be one of the fiercest electoral fights this fall. An UC Berkeley poll in April found 56% of voters initially backed the measure, but support fell to 39% after voters heard arguments for and against it, with 52% opposed.

DeMaio and Prop. 39 supporters contend the description leaves out a significant part of the initiative, as it places new responsibilities on state and county officials to maintain accurate voter rolls and verify citizenship.

“Whether you support or oppose this measure,” Yes on 39 officials said, “voters deserve a ballot description that is accurate and impartial.”

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