California’s Lawsuit Against City’s Voter ID Law Dismissed by Court
Huntington Beach City Attorney has confirmed that the city will continue to enforce its law requiring voter ID after 2026.
A recent ruling by the California Supreme Court on Nov. 15 dismissed the state’s lawsuit against Huntington Beach’s voter ID law. City Attorney Michael Gates expressed his satisfaction, calling it a victory for Huntington Beach and criticizing the state’s opposition.
Despite the possibility of the state refiling the lawsuit within 20 days, Gates stated on Monday that the city is proceeding with the voter ID program.
The lawsuit brought against Huntington Beach’s voter ID law in March, alleging violations of state election law, was dismissed by the state’s Supreme Court. Former state Sen. Dave Min’s law banning voter ID laws in local elections further fueled the conflict.
Min, expected to secure a U.S. House seat, introduced the law to prevent legal actions against the city. However, the city remains committed to implementing the voter ID requirement as outlined in the charter.
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After the court’s ruling, it was concluded that the City’s charter currently does not conflict with state election law, allowing the voter ID requirement to stand.
Huntington Beach’s voter ID law amendment, approved by voters in March, specifies the eligibility criteria for voters and asserts the city’s charter’s authority over state election code in case of conflicts.
As a charter city since 1937, Huntington Beach has the autonomy to establish its laws to prevent state intervention in local affairs. Despite threats from state officials, the city remains steadfast in upholding its voter ID requirement.
