Plain English Breakdown
The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but the last action listed is a committee referral dated June 29, 2026. This creates uncertainty about whether the effective date of January 1, 2027, will be met or if further legislative steps are required.
AB-1116: Online Voter Registration Without a Driver's License
This law allows qualified voters without a California driver's license or state ID to register online by providing the last four digits of their Social Security number and uploading an image of their signature.
What This Bill Does
- Allows people who are qualified to vote but do not have a California driver's license or state ID card to submit an electronic voter registration form on the Secretary of State's website.
- Requires applicants without a license or ID to provide the last four digits of their Social Security number with their application.
- Requires the Secretary of State to create a system for users to upload a high-quality digital image of their signature that is accessible to people with disabilities.
- Allows county elections officials to compare a voter's mail-in ballot envelope signature against this uploaded digital image.
- Authorizes the Secretary of State to verify identity using the last four digits of the Social Security number, full name, and date of birth for applicants without a license or ID.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who are qualified to vote but do not have a California driver's license or state identification card.
- The Secretary of State, who must build the new online signature upload system.
- County elections officials, who will verify signatures on mail-in ballots using the new digital images.
Terms To Know
- Affidavit
- A written statement of facts that a person signs to register as a voter.
- Digitized image
- An electronic picture or scan of something, such as a signature, stored on a computer.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law takes effect on the earlier date of January 1, 2027, or five days after the Secretary of State certifies that the necessary technology is working.
- This new registration method applies only to people who do not have a California driver's license or state ID card.