California sues to halt voter ID law from taking effect in Huntington Beach

California is taking legal action against Huntington Beach over its voter identification law. In a 320-page lawsuit filed on Monday, April 15, the state accuses Huntington Beach of violating California’s Constitution and election code by implementing a charter amendment mandating photo ID for local elections starting in 2026.

Huntington Beach contends that its city charter grants officials the authority to manage local affairs, including local elections. In addition to the photo ID requirement, the law mandates a provision of 20 in-person polling places and the monitoring of ballot drop boxes.

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Attorney General Rob Bonta, D, criticized Huntington Beach’s law, claiming that the city cannot exempt itself from state laws governing voter registration and election integrity. He called the photo ID requirement “blatantly and flatly illegal,” asserting that the city knowingly violated the law.

The fight between California and Huntington Beach is a sign of a broader issue, with the city at the center of culture wars since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past four years, Huntington Beach has taken controversial stances, challenging state policies on masks, vaccines, housing, immigration and now election procedures.

The lawsuit follows warnings from Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber last fall, telling the city that the voter ID measure could force them into legal action. Despite the warnings, Huntington Beach proceeded with putting the proposal on the March ballot, where voters approved the measure.

Supporters of the law say that it defends election integrity, citing concerns over noncitizen voting policies. However, opponents argue that Huntington Beach’s elections, overseen by the Orange County Registrar of Voters, are secure, and the city lacks the infrastructure to administer its local elections.

Weber described the law as a solution in search of a problem, contending that voter fraud claims lack substantial evidence. The legal battle comes as ongoing debates over voter ID laws continue, with Republicans pushing for stricter voter ID measures, while Democrats argue they will disenfranchise marginalized communities further.