Elections: voter identification.

Existing law requires that a person desiring to vote announce his or her name and address to the precinct board member at the polling place and then write the information in the roster of voters, except for specified exceptions. This bill would require a person desiring to vote to produce and show proof of identification, as defined, to the precinct worker at the polling place. This bill would also provide for a voter to cast a provisional ballot if the voter declines to provide, or is otherwise unable to provide, sufficient proof of identification. This bill would also provide exemptions from the requirement to provide proof of identification for voters residing in state-licensed care facilities that are used as polling places, vote by mail and special absentee voters who cast their ballots by mail, and voters who establish a religious objection to being photographed. This bill would also provide that, for purposes of complying with the proof of identification requirement, a registered voter could obtain a state-issued identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles at no cost. Because this bill would increase the duties of local elections officials regarding conducting elections, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.