- California
- Campaigns & Elections
- Politics, Institutions, and Public Opinion
- State & Local
- California Decides
- Empowering State and Local Governance
- Revitalizing American Institutions
Proposition 39 would change how Californians verify their identities when voting, replacing signature matching for mail-in ballots with government-issued identification numbers and requiring identification at polling places. Hoover Institution scholar Justin Grimmer examines the proposal, the safeguards already in place, and what research reveals about voter fraud and election security. He also addresses concerns that stricter identification requirements could discourage voting, explaining why studies suggest their effects on turnout and election outcomes are minimal. Grimmer also explores whether Proposition 39 could strengthen public trust in California's elections.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Rather than telling voters what to think, California Decides equips them with the facts, historical context, competing perspectives, and policy implications they need to make informed decisions. Through plain-language explainers, short videos, podcasts, webinars, proposition guides, data visualizations, and expert analysis, the initiative transforms complex public policy into accessible, engaging content for a broad audience.
Launching in advance of the 2026 election, California Decides will answer the questions Californians are already asking (from housing affordability and energy costs to education, public safety, state finances, and election administration) while also explaining how California government works and what the governor, Legislature, and ballot initiatives can and cannot change. More than an election resource, California Decides is intended to become Hoover’s permanent platform for California civic education: a trusted destination where voters, policymakers, journalists, educators, and community leaders can find clear, evidence-based explanations of the state’s most important challenges and the choices that will shape its future.
