California officials are suing the seaside city of Huntington Beach over a voter ID amendment passed last month with the support of a majority of residents.
The lawsuit, by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, calls for “Measure A,” the City of Huntington Beach’s voter ID law that would amend the city charter to allow for voter ID requirements by 2026. is objecting to.
Bonta and Weber argued in their lawsuit that the city’s voter ID law “unlawfully conflicts with and supersedes state law.”
Waves crash on the Huntington Beach Pier, the center of beach culture in Huntington Beach, California. February 22, 2024. (Rick Loomis of The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“The right to vote freely is a cornerstone of our democracy, and Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy violates this principle,” Bonta said in a statement.
He argued that state elections already include “strict voter ID requirements with strong protections to prevent voter fraud.” He said the new requirements would disproportionately burden “low-income voters, voters of color, young and older voters, and people with disabilities.”
The City Council made the decision in March after a series of hotly debated decisions on topics ranging from raising the flag to removing books from the children’s section of public libraries over concerns about the appropriateness of the material. Includes voter ID measures on ballots. The move was initiated by a politically conservative City Council majority that took office in 2022 and has drawn large numbers of residents to city meetings on all sides of the issue.
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The measure, which would allow cities to require voter identification, increase in-person voting locations and monitor ballot drop boxes in local elections, received 53% support on the March ballot, according to county election data. I got it and won.
City Attorney Michael Gates said the amendment approved by voters last month is “not only permissible” but supported by the state constitution.
“Huntington Beach residents have made their voice clear on this issue, and their decisions on March 5th ballot measures to ensure election integrity are final,” Gates said in a statement. “To that end, the city will vigorously support and defend the will.” people’s. ”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, left, and Shirley Webber take questions after announcing a lawsuit to protect voter rights during a press conference at the California Department of Justice in Los Angeles, Monday, April 15, 2024. Secretary of State. (AP Photo/Damien Dovarganes)
Bonta, a Democrat, said it was not immediately clear how the measure would be implemented. In California, voters can vote in person or return their ballot to the mailbox or mail it.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Bonta’s office and the Orange County Registrar of Voters for additional comment.
Huntington Beach, known as “Surf City USA” and known for its scenic coastline, has a history of wrangling with state officials over measures it can take under its city charter, from immigration to housing.
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Democrats outnumber Republicans in Orange County, but Republicans dominate in Huntington Beach, with about 54,000 registered voters to 41,000 Democrats, according to county data.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
