Vote SAFE Now is a statewide ballot initiative that would secure California’s voting process by requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls; allow county Registrar of Voters additional time to count military votes that are mailed in from outside the U.S.; and protect the identity of absentee voters by concealing the voter’s signature on the envelope. Voters without I.D. will still be allowed to vote provisionally.

Senator George Runner first introduced Vote SAFE last year to much praise from the public and grassroots groups like Tea Party Patriots.

“People must show photo ID to rent videos. It’s not asking too much that voters show photo ID to vote,” Runner said.

“It’s a common-sense solution to the atrocious act of stealing votes. When someone votes fraudulently they steal your vote and they silence your voice.”

The initiative needs approximately 640,000 verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Runner hopes to qualify the measure for the November 2010 General Election but has not balked at the idea of putting the idea before voters on the June 2012 Primary ballot.

We are collecting signatures until late June.