California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new legislation that prohibits local governments from mandating voter ID requirements at the ballot box. This move has stirred controversy, with tech mogul Elon Musk criticizing Newsom and dubbing him 'The Joker' for signing the bill.
The bill was initially introduced by state Sen. David Min and was passed by the California Assembly in August. It was signed into law by Newsom last Thursday. The legislation was a response to Huntington Beach passing a voter ID amendment, Measure A, earlier in the year, which aimed to introduce voter identification requirements in local elections.
Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber challenged Huntington Beach's voter ID law, arguing that it conflicted with and was preempted by state law. California is among the 14 states that do not mandate voter ID at polling stations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Bonta emphasized the importance of the right to vote freely and expressed concerns that voter ID requirements could disproportionately impact certain groups, such as low-income voters, voters of color, and individuals with disabilities.
In response to the legal challenge, Min introduced Senate Bill No. 1174, which was approved by the State Assembly and Senate. Despite the new state law, Huntington Beach officials have vowed to continue enforcing Measure A, asserting their constitutional right to do so.
This clash is not the first between Musk and Newsom. Musk has previously criticized Newsom's decisions, including the ban on digitally altered political 'deepfakes' and a bill related to school notifications about gender identity. Musk has also raised concerns about voter integrity and immigration issues, arguing that failure to require photo ID for voting hampers efforts to combat voter fraud.
