One North County leader is proposing her city become the first in California to require photo identification to vote in city elections according to a published report.
Escondido Councilmember Marie Waldron told our media partner the North County Times she will propose adding that language to the city charter that will be up for voter approval on the November ballot.
Waldron told the paper she wants to prevent fraud however the American Civil Liberties Union suggested the councilmember was targeting Latinos.
Lori Shellenberger, an attorney for the ACLU’s San Diego chapter, said the idea violates a constitutional right and would discourage people from voting.
“It would be saying that you can’t vote in Escondido anymore if you can’t afford a photo ID,” she said. "I think it's highly suspicious in a city that has a history of discrimination against new immigrants...it's a clear violation of state and federal law and I'm sure the city attorney's office is well aware of that."
Earlier this month the ACLU threatened to sue the City of Escondido claiming the city tried to profit from its DUI Checkpoint and Towing Program.
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