Southern California Desalination plant. (Photo: Shutterstock, KK Stock)
California Sues Huntington Beach Over Voter ID Law
Law is scheduled to go into effect beginning in 2026
By Evan Symon, April 16, 2024 2:45 am
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced on Monday the state will be suing the city of Huntington Beach over their recently passed voter ID law, which requires a valid state ID to be presented before voting.
In March, voters in Huntington Beach voted on Measure A, which stated that, beginning in 2026, voter identification would be needed before any election. The measure also came with provisions for more in-person voting locations and to monitor ballot drop-boxes. The measure ultimately passed with 53.4% of the vote. However, both Bonta and Weber vowed to challenge the new law in court, citing that it could potentially disenfranchise many voters, including minorities, the elderly, and younger voters, all of whom may not have a valid ID.
Speaking from the California Department of Justice in Los Angeles on Monday, both Bonta and Weber announced that state would be suing the city over the measure, saying that a lawsuit had been filed in the Orange County Superior Court. Bonta specifically noted that the measure goes against state voter registration and election integrity laws. He also noted that the suit, the People of California v. The City of Huntington Beach, would address all worries over the current system.
“The photo identification requirement is not only misguided, it is blatantly and flatly illegal,” said Bonta at the press conference. “They have greatly overstated the authority they think they have. They have willfully violated the law, they have brazenly violated the law. They know exactly what they are doing, and they are doing it anyway.
“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. 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. Imposing unnecessary obstacles to voter participation disproportionately burdens low-income voters, voters of color, young or elderly voters, and people with disabilities. 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.”
Weber added that “This voter ID measure conflicts with state law. 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.”
Huntington Beach to challenge suit
However, city officials defended the voters decision last month, saying that they would fight against the lawsuit and uphold it in time for the 2026 election.
“The people of Huntington Beach have made their voices clear on this issue,” said Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates. “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.”
Legal experts told the Globe on Monday that the state would need a strong argument to challenge the city’s law, especially as other areas in the state are considering similar ballot proposals.
“Bonta and Weber are going to have a tough time with this one,” added lawyer Miguel Quezada to the Globe on Monday. “First of all, they have an Orange Country court, and those are historically more difficult to reverse cases like these. But they also have to cut around city laws in this one and prove how the state law trumps it, and that is a tall order.”
“What is likely going to happen is that there will be an appeal and they go to the friendlier state courts. It all depends on what judges are drawn of course, but they seem to be geared to go all the way on this.”
More on the suit is expected soon.
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It’s hard for any Californian to ignore that each “close” vote gets resolved in favor of the establishment, that each recall fails, and that the longer they count the more votes are “found” to support Democrat priorities. The fact Bonta and Weber give this case such high priority indicates that continuing voter fraud is an important facet to their control of the election process which continues to ruin California.
EXACTLY.
We should send this to Rob Bonta:,
42 out of 50 states in the United States do not require a photo ID to vote.
Countries that require a photo ID to vote:
UK
Italy
Chile
Spain
Malta
Brazil
Israel
Latvia
Russia
France
Mexico
Austria
Ireland
Poland
Greece
Croatia
Finland
Estonia
Belgium
Sweden
Bulgaria
Portugal
Hungary
Ecuador
Slovenia
Slovakia
Romania
Denmark
Germany
Lithuania
Argentina
Columbia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Luxemburg
Netherlands
South Africa
Czech Republic
(Just to name a few)
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the rest of the Democrat mafia know that they can’t win elections without pervasive voter fraud and rigged voting machines. When will hard-working Californians be free of these criminal thugs?
TJ, it certainly seems as though other than divine intervention, nothing less than indictments, convictions, and prison will shake this election cheat monkey and the criminals responsible for the state’s downward spiral off of our backs. What other options are there? By definition we cannot vote the bums out. Will the Feds intervene if and when we are in a more sane place in this country? Guess we’ll see
How on Earth is California going to protect the voting rights of dead relatives, household pets and tens of millions of illegal aliens if heinous municipalities like Huntington Beach demand that voters prove their identity? It’s clearly a threat to Democracy.
Election integrity in California is……..
NON-EXISTENT!
Same old Democrat mantra, which would have them screaming bigotry if the Republicans said requiring an ID hurts minorities, disabled, and the elderly…Please Mr. Bonta, explain to the public how these classifications of people would be harmed. Are you saying they are less capable? If not, then what? How’s your foot taste?
Has the well to do country club CA GOP been crickets on this California issue while still finding the time to rally support for sending tax dollars overseas?
Ah yes…as always, Democrats say they love democracy until people use it to vote in policies that they don’t like. They have no standards other than double standards. I can’t wait for this case to go to court and the Bonta circus try to claim how Voter ID is racist and that having loose-goosey elections is actually “good”. That will be a hoot.
Here that Californians? Your Attorney General (along with the rest of the Democrats thinks your stupid and can’t figure out how to get a id. Which by the way you need to do almost anything in the state.
Call Bonta and tell him you oppose the lawsuit and we need voter ID. Flood his office with calls.
Can we get Voter ID requirement on a statewide ballot?
Since we need ID to recycle, go to a doctor, buy cold medicine, buy alcohol, cigarettes, fly, go into federal buildings, attend the democrat convention, drive and more, we can certainly require ID to vote. The only way for a free, fair, transparent and voter suppression free election to take place is to have voter ID. Every American citizen can get ID. It is nondiscriminatory.
Hey Huntington Beach – PLEASE COUNTERSUE California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and take them to court so that due diligence regarding the current voter fraud and ballot INsecurity is exposed in court!!!
Make them PROVE all their assertions….
📜 California takes a stand against Huntington Beach’s voter ID law. 🗳️ Let’s protect voter rights for all! #VotingRights #LegalBattle
California has no problem passing regulations in violation of the constitution. Happy about the Sheetz development fee win.