Supervisor Rowe’s editorial was originally published in the Yucaipa News Mirror on October 11, 2024.
As a Gold Star wife, I take very seriously my oath of office, and the faith voters have put in me. In our representative form of democracy, elected officials are tasked with making decisions that are in best interest of their constituents. Put simply, elections matter, and the sanctity of elections is paramount. The foundation of our government rests on the trust citizens place in their electoral process.
As we approach another Election Day, it is imperative that we address the critical issue of election integrity, particularly the necessity of showing identification at the polls. That’s why I was disappointed to see Governor Newsom sign SB 1174. SB 1174 was introduced in response to city of Huntington Beach’s voter-approved law requiring voters to provide identification when voting. SB 1174 overrides the will of the people, nullifying this local measure by prohibiting local governments from enacting or enforcing any requirement for a person to show identification when voting.
Not only is this an affront to local control, but also it diminishes the integrity of our election process. We require IDs for so many basic things such as driving a car, opening a bank account, and checking into a hotel. However, the State of California has now declared that requiring an ID to vote places too great an onus on the voter. I do not agree with the notion that an ID requirement disenfranchises voters, rather it ensures the validity of our elections by stopping fraud. In fact, many other democracies require IDs to vote.
As the Chairman of the Board here in San Bernardino County, I’ve been focused on implementing measures to safeguard our elections locally. At our September 24 board meeting, I asked our Registrar of Voters (ROV) to provide a presentation on the election process in our county. For those of you interested, you can view it on the Board of Supervisors webpage at: https://main.sbcounty.gov/county-meetings-events/. I have also worked with our county CEO to take measures to further improve integrity and prevent fraud.
Additionally, I believe it’s important to have transparency in our election process. To that end, the San Bernardino County ROV will host a series of public events, offering an opportunity for community members to observe key election processes. These events will provide an inside look at how elections are administered in the county, and it’s a great chance to see the process in action. For more information on participating, you can call the registrar at 909-387-8300.
I’m very disappointed in the action some of our state leaders have taken against Voter ID. Voter ID laws are a proactive common-sense approach aimed at preventing fraud, enhancing transparency, and reassuring the electorate. Regardless of the state’s ultimatum, here in San Bernardino County, I will continue to prioritize the integrity of our electoral process. Let’s work together to ensure that our elections are not only secure, but also reflective of the will of the people. It is necessary that we protect what so many have fought to build.