California Appeals Huntington Beach Voter ID Law Ruling

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The California Attorney General’s Office has filed an appeal in its lawsuit aiming to overturn Huntington Beach‘s voter ID law. The appeal comes less than two months after an Orange County judge ruled against the state’s arguments, stating the city’s law does not violate the right to vote.

The contentious charter amendment, passed by voters in early 2024, allows Huntington Beach to mandate voter identification at polling places starting in 2026. Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized the ordinance in a statement, asserting, “California’s elections are fair, safe and secure. We respectfully ask the California Fourth District Court of Appeal to reverse the lower court’s decision and overturn Huntington Beach’s unlawful voter ID policy. State law supersedes local law when it comes to constitutional matters like the right to vote.”

The city has maintained that the state prohibition on voter ID requirements is not applicable to city elections not consolidated with statewide elections. Huntington Beach officials have yet to disclose plans on how the voter ID system would be implemented.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber added her voice to the opposition, calling the voter ID policy “unlawful.” She stated, “Municipalities should not be allowed to defy state laws in the name of solving nonexistent problems.”

The case briefly appeared before a panel of judges in the California Fourth District Court of Appeal. The judges found the city’s claims regarding its right to regulate elections without state interference to be “problematic” before sending the case back for further review.

As the lawsuit progresses, it raises significant questions about the intersection of local governance and state law regarding voting rights.