California Voters Weigh Voter ID Measure and High-Profile Races

California voters will decide on several high-profile races and ballot measures during the November 3 General Election. A central point of contention is Proposition 39, authored by Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio and funded by billionaire Richard Uihlein. The measure would require voters to present identification before receiving ballots and mandate that officials use their best efforts to verify the citizenship of registered voters. It also allows private citizens to sue the government for non-compliance.

Opponents, citing research from the Brennan Center for Justice and the California State Library, argue the measure addresses a phantom problem and could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. The California Legislative Analyst's Office estimates the system revamp would cost the state between tens of millions and low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Additionally, the Independent Voter Project reports that partisan manipulation of the ballot title may have shifted polling results by 15 to 20 points.

Concurrent with the propositions, Democratic former congressman Xavier Becerra is expected to win the gubernatorial race against Republican Steve Hilton, which would make him the first Latino governor of California since 1875. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass faces a challenge from City Council member Nithya Raman in a race viewed as a clash between establishment Democrats and socialist-aligned candidates. Other key contests include the race for Insurance Commissioner between Democrats Ben Allen and Jane Kim, as well as votes on a proposed one-time 5 percent wealth tax on billionaires.