I've never shown my ID or had to verify who I am once here in CA. If someone were to steal ballots, they could easily go from place to place and vote multiple times and if that someone was associated with a large group, they could easily impact an election. This is why we need voter ID laws.
On its face voter registration in California does seem laxed. According to California's government website to register to vote you need:
The voter registration application asks for your driver license or California identification card number, or you can use the last four numbers on your Social Security card. If you do not have a driver license, California identification card or Social Security card, you may leave that space blank. Your county elections official will assign a number to you that will be used to identify you as a voter.
Here is as link to more detailed voter identification verification requirements in California:
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/regulations/hava_id_regs_from_barclays_3_3_06.pdfCalifornia allows the option to vote by mail.
Voting for the First TimeWhen you registered to vote, you were asked to fill in your driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you are a first-time voter in a federal election and did not include this information when you registered, send a photocopy of some personal identification to your county elections official before the election.
A copy of a recent utility bill, the county Voter Information Guide you received from your county elections office, or another document sent to you by a government agency are examples of acceptable forms of identification. Other examples include your passport, driver license, official California identification card, or student identification card.
If your identity cannot be verified, then your Vote-by-Mail ballot return envelope will not be opened.
For more information on identification to use when you vote for the first time, check the complete list of acceptable forms of identification (PDF) or call the Secretary of State's toll-free voter hotline at (800) 345-VOTE (8683).