In my case there was no such identification process whatsoever. I went in, asked for a ballot, got a ballot no questions asked, filled it in, and dropped it in a box monitored by a few poll workers.

I actually asked them the first time I voted if they weren't going to ask me who I am because I found it bizarre, and I still remember getting a simple and quick "No.".

So I really don't know what to tell you, I can only relate what I experienced. I have no confidence that California's elections are worth a damn because I have nothing to support such an assertion.