California officials are suing the coastal city of Huntington Beach for passing a voter ID amendment last month with the support of a majority of people.
The case, filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, challenges Huntington Beach’s voter ID statute, Measure A, which alters the city charter to mandate voter ID by 2026.
In their case, Bonta and Weber claimed that the city’s voter ID statute “unlawfully conflicts and is preempted by state law.”
“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy and Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy flies in the face of this principle,” Bonta stated in a press release.
He said that state elections currently had “robust voter ID requirements with strong protections to prevent voter fraud.” He said that the increased criteria would disproportionately affect “low-income voters, voters of color, young or elderly voters, and people with disabilities.”
The City Council put the voter ID item on the March ballot after making a series of contentious decisions on issues ranging from flag flying to the removal of books from the public library’s children’s department due to concerns about the appropriateness of materials. The efforts were launched by a politically conservative council majority that entered power in 2022, and they have attracted scores of individuals from all sides of the issue to city meetings.
The proposition, which would allow the city to require voter identification, expand in-person polling booths, and monitor ballot drop boxes in municipal elections, received 53% of the vote in March, according to county election records.
According to City Attorney Michael Gates, the amendment approved by voters last month is “not only permissible” but also protected by the state constitution.
“The people of Huntington Beach have made their voices clear on this issue and the people’s decision on the March 5th ballot measures for election integrity is final,” Gates said in a written statement. “To that end, the City will vigorously uphold and defend the will of the people.”
Bonta, a Democrat, stated that it was not immediately clear how the proposal would be implemented. In California, voters can cast ballots in person, at drop boxes, or by mail.
Fox News Digital has contacted Bonta’s office and the Orange County Registrar of Voters for further clarification.
Huntington Beach called “Surf City USA” and noted for its gorgeous shoreline, has a history of clashing with state officials over the measures allowed by its municipal charter on issues ranging from immigration to housing.
While Democrats outnumber Republicans in Orange County, the GOP dominates Huntington Beach, with over 54,000 registered voters to 41,000 Democrats.