Carl DeMaio's Voter ID Initiative Urgently Seeks 750,000 More Signatures for 2026 Ballot

Carl DeMaio, a prominent California Assemblyman and Chairman of Reform California, announced a significant milestone in his signature drive for the California Voter ID Initiative, while simultaneously stressing the immediate need for an additional 750,000 signatures. DeMaio stated on social media, "> AMAZING NEWS!!! A record-breaking start in our signature drive, but we still need 750k more ASAP! Join the fight!", urging supporters to help qualify the measure for the 2026 statewide ballot. The initiative aims to implement stricter voter identification and citizenship verification requirements across the state.

The California Voter ID Initiative (25-0007A1), co-sponsored by DeMaio, State Senator Tony Strickland, and Donald J. DiCostanzo, requires a total of 874,641 valid signatures by its circulation deadline of March 18, 2026. This constitutional amendment proposes that voters present government-issued identification at polling places or provide the last four digits of such identification for mail-in ballots. It also mandates annual reporting on citizenship verification by election officials.

Reform California reported a "record-breaking haul" of over 250,000 signatures within the first two weeks of the drive. DeMaio expressed enthusiasm for this initial success, stating, "We are absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming response of signatures... and it proves that California voters across the political spectrum support the CA Voter ID Initiative." This early momentum highlights strong public backing for the proposed electoral reforms.

Despite the strong start, the campaign faces a tight deadline to gather the remaining signatures. The call for 750,000 more signatures underscores the urgency to meet the qualification threshold, positioning the initiative as a critical battle for election integrity. The campaign relies heavily on a grassroots network, with over 14,000 volunteers reportedly activated statewide to collect signatures.

DeMaio has framed this effort as a "two-for-one fight," combining the Voter ID initiative with a campaign against Proposition 50, which he describes as Governor Gavin Newsom's "corrupt redistricting scheme." He argues that defeating Prop 50 is as crucial as passing Voter ID to prevent politicians from manipulating electoral maps. Reform California is also conducting a large-scale grassroots mail campaign to inform voters about both issues.

The proposed initiative carries an estimated fiscal impact of tens of millions to low hundreds of millions of dollars annually for state and local governments, primarily for implementation and ongoing election administration. Proponents argue these costs are justified to restore trust in elections and ensure every legal vote is counted. The initiative reflects a broader movement to enhance election security measures in California.