Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings Donates $1 Million to Block California Voter ID Measure
Hastings contributes to campaign opposing Proposition 39, which would require voters to show identification.
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has donated $1 million to a campaign working to block Proposition 39, a California ballot measure that would implement strict voter identification requirements. The contribution was recorded on September 3, according to state records.
Proposition 39 would mandate that voters present proof of citizenship and personal identification to cast a ballot. Proponents of the measure argue it is necessary to prevent voter fraud and restore confidence in the electoral system. Backers include the Transparency Foundation, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and several Republican officials.
The measure requires voters to show government-issued ID for in-person voting and to provide the last four digits of an identification number on mail-in ballots to verify eligibility.
Recent polling from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates that 55% of California voters oppose Proposition 39, while 43% support it. Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a proponent of the measure, stated that "California politicians are getting special interests to bankroll their dishonest smear campaign against Prop 39, but in the end we are confident voters will vote YES on Prop 39 because it is truly the bipartisan solution for Voter ID to restore trust in our democracy."
Opponents of Proposition 39, including the ACLU California Action and the League of Women Voters, contend that the measure would impose undue restrictions on voting and increase the risk of identity theft. They assert there is no evidence of widespread fraud in California's voting system.
The measure comes amid broader concerns about election integrity, including issues with the timely counting of mail-in ballots and past reports of fraud among petition workers gathering signatures for ballot initiatives. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has launched investigations into voting issues, citing "serious structural vulnerabilities" in California's election system, particularly with universal vote-by-mail without voter ID requirements.
Supporters of Proposition 39 have also accused Attorney General Rob Bonta of attempting to influence the measure's title and summary to confuse voters. Hastings is a significant political donor in California, having previously contributed to blocking the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022 and supporting candidates from both parties.