A new initiative filed by Republican Sen. George Runner -- who spearheaded the placement of statewide measures on the ballot in 2006 and 2008 -- has been cleared to begin collecting signatures. The measure would tighten requirements on voting, including requiring government-issued IDs and eliminating suffrage for ex-felons on probation.
In 2006, Runner led the fight for Proposition 83, better known as Jessica's Law, which set strict parameters for where ex-sex offenders could live after parole. The measure passed by a wide margin.
In 2008, he pressed for an anti-gang measure, Proposition 6, that was handily defeated at the polls.
Here's the official title and summary of the new measure:
LIMITS ON VOTING. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Prohibits citizens from voting at the polls unless they present a government-issued photo-identification card. Establishes provisional voting for citizens at the polls who fail to present government-issued photo-identification. Requires that provisional ballots and mail-in ballots be deemed invalid unless the accompanying envelope is marked with the last four digits of a citizen's California driver's license, state identification card or social security number. Eliminates the right to vote for citizens on probation for a felony offense. Establishes that ballots from absent military personnel are timely if postmarked by election day. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Some increased government costs associated with voting in elections. These costs probably would not be significant. (09-0005.)
You can read the full text here. Runner and the campaign have 150 days to collect 433,8971 valid signatures to qualify the measure for the 2010 ballot.
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