California voters split on billionaire wealth tax and voter-ID ballot measures, poll shows

A UC Berkeley/Times poll finds California voters are deeply divided on Prop 40, a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires’ assets to backfill federal healthcare cuts; 48% support, 41% oppose, and 11% undecided, with younger, minority, and lower-income voters more supportive, while unions back the measure though concerns about wealthy residents fleeing persist. Prop 39, a voter ID and citizenship verification measure, is just over half opposed, with Democrats largely against and Republicans in favor. Countermeasures Prop 41 (tax/spending audits) and Prop 42 (ban on certain new taxes) show mixed support (Prop 41: 35%/37% oppose; Prop 42: 40%/37% oppose; ~25% undecided). Turnout and messaging in November could swing the outcomes, per polling of 4,207 registered voters (2,310 likely voters) conducted Aug. 3–9 with ~2.5-point MOE.