On August 8, a grassroots organization in support of California’s “Prop 39” (Proposition 39, Voter ID ballot measure) announced that its two offices in Huntington Beach and Tustin in Orange County will be open every Saturday.
Despite two lawsuits against California Attorney General Rob Bonta for changing the title and summary of the ballot measure, with the court ruling in favor of the Attorney General in both cases, the sponsoring organization “Reform California” pointed out that the revised title omitted a key element – giving the state government and counties new responsibilities to maintain accurate voter rolls and verify citizens’ identities.
Lisa has been a volunteer for Prop 39 since last year, from collecting signatures to getting the proposition on the ballot. She said, “I am a native Californian, and this issue is very important. I have been asked four times at the DMV when renewing my driver’s license if I want to register to vote. The Motor Voter Act of 1993 is a major reason why ineligible people are on the voter rolls, as it only requires checking a box without submitting a social security number or a photo ID.”
“They argue that voter registration is done under the legal obligation of perjury, but in reality, California voter rolls have had tens of thousands or more illegal immigrants,” Lisa said. “Non-citizens should not participate in voting, they should not have a say, it is a matter of allegiance to which country.”
Some counties in California allow residents to observe the election process, Lisa said, “I have worked in the forensics department with handwriting analysis experts, which is very detailed work.”
Another volunteer who has observed signature verification on-site said, “Staff can see the party affiliation of voters; although the public is allowed to see how signature verification is done, you have to watch closely the whole time, sometimes from a distance, and they compare signatures quickly. If you notice discrepancies between the signature and online records, you have to remember that ballot and report it to the supervisor immediately, by then, many ballots may have passed.”
“I’m here to urge everyone to vote in favor of Prop 39, we support voter ID verification to ensure fair, secure, and reliable elections,” said Huntington Beach Council member and State Assembly candidate for the 72nd District Gracey Van Der Mark. “Political parties are allowed to observe the election of our next leaders, so why not our neighbors from other countries ensuring Californians follow the laws set forth by our forefathers?”
Opponents claim that voter ID verification would disenfranchise minority voters, but Van Der Mark said, “I rely on WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Medi-Cal for living, and have experienced homelessness. When I applied for aid, the first thing they ask is, can you show your identification?”
She also emphasized her interest in the development and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI): “AI is a crucial resource in medical research and other fields, but it’s rapidly evolving, and we must prevent its misuse or impact on employment. I hope to join the AI Policy Committee and remind everyone that AI technology is prone to errors, and people still need the ability to think independently and fact-check.”
If successfully entering the state legislature, Van Der Mark said she would work to bring common sense back to Sacramento, simplify terms so the public understands the true intent of the bill, and prioritize addressing California’s lagging education and tourism area security issues.