California will appeal rejection of lawsuit over Huntington Beach voter ID law
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — California will appeal a judge’s decision to reject a state lawsuit over a measure allowing the city of Huntington Beach to require voter identification at the polls, officials announced Thursday.
State officials are determined to continue fighting the measure, which was passed by voters in March in the coastal city with a population of 200,000. An Orange County Superior Court judge ruled last month that the state brought litigation too prematurely regarding the local law, which enables the city to implement voter identification requirements starting in 2026.
“With preparations for the 2026 elections beginning late next year, we want and need a state appellate court to weigh in expeditiously,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Michael Gates, the city attorney for Huntington Beach, expressed support for the court’s ruling, emphasizing that the voting public backed the local measure. “Voter ID in Huntington Beach is the law of our land here, it’s our Constitutional right, and it’s here to stay – I will make sure of that,” Gates stated in an email.
The Huntington Beach measure also grants the city the authority to increase in-person voting sites and monitor ballot drop boxes during local elections.
In response to the measure, state officials filed a lawsuit, arguing that it violates state law and could disenfranchise vulnerable groups, including poor, non-white, elderly, and disabled voters. Additionally, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed a state measure prohibiting local governments from enacting laws that require residents to provide identification in order to vote.
Huntington Beach, affectionately known as “Surf City USA,” boasts a scenic coastline frequented by surfers. The city has a history of contested relations with state officials over various issues, including immigration and housing, under its city charter. The local government is controlled by a politically conservative city council, with Republicans holding a significant advantage in voter registration—approximately 57,000 registered Republicans compared to 42,000 Democrats, according to county data.
As this legal battle continues, the implications for voter access and local governance remain pivotal topics of discussion within the community and beyond.
