Billionaires across the US are providing substantial funding for California's Proposition 39, a ballot measure that would mandate voters to present identification before casting their ballots. The measure is being promoted as a method to "[increase] trust and confidence in our elections."
The campaign supporting Proposition 39 has reportedly received more than $36 million. This includes $17 million from conservative donor Richard Uihlein and $8 million from Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Nicole Shanahan have also made notable donations. The 'yes' campaign has out-raised its opponents by as much as $13 million.
If enacted, Proposition 39 would require voters to show identification at polling places. It would also mandate that mail ballots include the last four digits of a government-issued ID number on the envelope. Currently, California voters do not need to show identification at polls, but must provide a driver’s license, state identification number, or partial social security number when registering to vote.
Republican lawmaker Carl DeMaio authored the proposition. The state Democratic party, the ACLU, and the League of Women Voters oppose the measure.
Recent polling on Proposition 39 shows varied results. A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found the measure trailing by 13 points, while other polls from late September indicated it had a lead. An early August survey of Latino likely voters found them evenly divided on the measure.