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Responding to accusations that he is “rigging” the election, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office amending the title of a ballot measure for a voter ID requirement is “fair.”
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Voters on Nov. 3 will decide Proposition 39, which would require government-issued identification to vote. Bonta, as he said is his right, changed the title to “Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present Government Issued Identification.”
When supporters circulate the petition last year, the title read “Establishes Additional Voter Identification and Citizenship Verification Requirements.“
State Republicans called foul. Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Clovis, said in a video posted on X: “This is the most blatant form of cheating and rigging for the November election that we have ever seen.”
Bonta on Thursday defended his change, answering a question from The Fresno Bee at a news conference.
“Our duty is to set forth the chief points and purpose, and to do so in a way that is accurate and fair and descriptive and informative for the voters,” Bonta said.
Bonta said it is “very common” to change the title and summary from the petition stage to placing it on the ballot, and allowed by law. He said all nine ballot measures had changes.
“Oftentimes, there’s more information. There are additional details to be emphasized. There sometimes is intervening law,” Bonta said.
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He said the changes are compliant with law, and a “more accurate” description.
The proposition is roundly opposed by California’s elected Democrats, who argue the initiative is unnecessary and would disenfranchise voters. Prop. 39 has drawn financial support from right-leaning billionaires as well as grassroots conservative activists.
Bonta criticizes GOP
Bonta also attacked Tangipa and other state Republican legislatures for their criticism.
“I think their language is inappropriate, unfortunate, false,” Bonta said. “But it’s something that I’ve come to expect from some assemblymembers who want to throw bombs.”
Republicans have threatened legal action, but traditionally, the courts have not reversed titles and summaries set by the attorney general.
“They have no legal basis,” Bont said, “and we have completely fulfilled our duty here; fully, legally compliant.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2026 at 11:57 AM with the headline “Title change for CA voter ID measure ‘fair,’ state AG says. GOP calls it ‘cheating’.”
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