Huntington Beach clashes with California over voter ID requirement in court

Lawyers for the California Attorney General’s Office and Huntington Beach argued in court Thursday over whether the charter city is allowed to require voters to show ID at polling places.

The backstory

Huntington Beach voters approved a measure last year allowing the city to require people to show ID when casting a ballot. That contradicts state law — voters in California are asked to provide ID when they register to vote, but generally not at polling places. The state subsequently sued Huntington Beach.

What arguments did the city make?

Lawyers for the city argued that its charter gives it wide latitude to run its own elections. Plus, they said, the city hasn’t actually implemented a voter ID law yet and should be given the chance to prove it can fit within state law.

The city also said its voter ID rule would ensure its elections don’t run afoul of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on election integrity, and a Congressional bill that aims to tighten requirements on voters to prove their citizenship.

What arguments did the state make?

Lawyers for the state argued that protecting the right to vote is a matter of statewide concern. They also argued that, practically speaking, Huntington Beach relies on the county and state to register voters and administer elections, and therefore the city has to follow their rules.

Why this case matters

Requiring voters to show ID at polls has long been a controversial topic across the U.S., and historically was used to disenfranchise Black voters. Voting rights advocates say groups that include students, the elderly and people of color are less likely to have a government-issued ID. Supporters of voter ID say it’s a commonsense measure to prevent election fraud. The judge in the case could make a decision soon.

The bigger picture

On Thursday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against Trump’s recent executive order that seeks to impose new voting rules on states in the name of preventing non-citizens from casting ballots.

Do other states require ID at the polls?

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states request or require voters to show ID at polls, including Wisconsin, where residents passed a Constitutional amendment earlier this week.