California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 1174, a new law that forbids local governments from mandating voter identification before ballots are cast. This legislation seems to specifically target conservative areas, such as Huntington Beach in Orange County. In reaction, entrepreneur Elon Musk used his platform, X, to ridicule Newsom, calling him “The Joker.”
Musk expressed his discontent, stating, “Wow, now it’s illegal to ask for voter ID in California! They are the ones facilitating election fraud,” and added, “The Joker is in charge.” The comparison to “The Joker” evokes a character often associated with mental illness and social ostracism who turns to violence, a nuance that doesn’t entirely match the Chinese connotation for “clown.”
Fox News reports that this isn’t Musk’s first encounter with Newsom. Alongside his plans to move SpaceX and X headquarters to Texas, Musk recently shared a deepfake video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris with his almost 200 million followers, just after Newsom instituted a ban on deepfake political propaganda.
Previously, Musk had voiced his concerns on X regarding the necessity of voter ID, claiming it would lead to election fraud. He contended that such concerns are precisely why extreme leftists oppose ID verification.
During the March 2024 primary elections, the Huntington Beach City Council presented Measure A, which asked locals whether they supported the requirement of showing ID when voting. The measure received 53.4% approval, allowing the council to proceed with implementing ID checks.
City attorney Michael Gates has asserted since March that Measure A aligns with state constitutional requirements and must be enacted by 2026. However, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber disagree and have filed a lawsuit contending that Measure A violates state law.
According to Fox News, California is among 14 states that do not necessitate voter ID. Before the legal battles surrounding Measure A reach a conclusion, Senator David Min introduced SB 1174, which successfully passed both legislative chambers and was sent to the governor for approval.
