California files lawsuit against city for implementing voter ID rule in local elections

State officials in California are suing Huntington Beach, California, over a ballot measure voters in the city approved that requires voter ID in municipal elections.

Ballot Measure A, which passed last month, calls for municipal elections in the Southern California city to “require Voter Identification for elections; provide more in-person voting locations; and monitor ballot drop-boxes” beginning in 2026. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber argued in a lawsuit filed in state court on Monday that the voter ID provision goes against state law.

“This voter ID measure conflicts with state law,” Weber said in a statement. “Not only is it a solution in search of a problem, laws like these are harmful to California voters, especially low-income, the elderly, people of color, those with disabilities, and young voters.”

The two had previously warned the city in 2023 that they believed the ballot measure would go against state law, with the lawsuit filed on Monday renewing their claims that it is preempted by state law. The ballot measure does not affect voter ID requirements for state or federal elections in the city. The filing asks a state Superior Court to bar the city from implementing and enforcing the voter ID provision of Measure A.

“State election law already contains robust voter ID requirements with strong protections to prevent voter fraud, while ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot without hardship,” Bonta said in a statement.

“We’re asking the court to block Huntington Beach’s unlawful step toward suppressing or disenfranchising voters. The California Department of Justice stands ready to defend the voting rights that make our democracy strong,” he added.

The city intends to fight back against the lawsuit, with Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates telling the Washington Examiner in a statement that they will “vigorously uphold and defend” the measure.

“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. To that end, the City will vigorously uphold and defend the will of the people,” Gates said in a statement.

Gates noted that a bill being floated by a Democratic state senator would make voter ID provisions at a local level illegal, arguing that move conflicts with Bonta’s claim that Huntington Beach’s provision currently violates state law. Gates also noted that the state constitution gives the city the authority to conduct local elections how they wish.

“The Attorney General’s Press Release that the City’s Voter ID requirements violate State Law is inconsistent with, in fact in direct conflict with, Senator David Min’s new bill attempting to make Huntington Beach’s Voter ID illegal. That blatant inconsistency speaks volumes,” Gates said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.

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“The City of Huntington Beach’s Voter ID and other elections measures approved by the voters on March 5th to increase voter participation by mandating at least 20 more in-person polling locations and monitoring of ballot drop boxes are not only permissible, the City’s authority is provided for them in the California Constitution, Article XI, Section 5(b), for local elections,” he added.

Huntington Beach is one of the Republican areas in the heavily Democratic Golden State. Voters in the city also elected to limit the flags that can be flown on city property, alongside Measure A, in March.