Voter ID measure violates California law, appeals court says

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A California appeals court ruled Monday that a Huntington Beach measure requiring voter identification at polling places violated state law.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana determined that the measure passed by voters in the beach town of 200,000 should be overturned because it violated state election law, said Lee Fink, attorney for Huntington Beach resident Mark Bixby, who challenged the city’s measure. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also filed a lawsuit against the Huntington Beach law, saying it would disenfranchise voters.

“Voting is the fundamental right from which all other rights flow, and no matter where the threats to that right come from – whether from Washington DC or California – we will continue to stay the course,” Bonta said in a statement. “California’s elections are already fair, safe and secure. »

Corbin Carson, a Huntington Beach spokesman, said the city is reviewing the appeals court decision.

Huntington Beach residents voted last year to allow local officials to require voter ID on ballots starting in 2026. The measure also allows the city to increase the number of in-person voting sites and monitor ballot boxes during local elections.

Bonta sued, saying the measure violated state law and could make it harder for poor, nonwhite, young, elderly and disabled voters to vote. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, then signed into state law a measure prohibiting local governments from establishing and enforcing laws requiring residents to provide identification to vote in elections.

Huntington Beach, known as “Surf City USA” for its picturesque coastline dotted with surfers, has a history of wrangling with state officials over what actions it can take under its municipal charter on issues ranging from immigration to housing. The GOP dominates in Huntington Beach with nearly 57,000 registered voters compared to 41,000 Democrats, according to county data.