One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Huntington Beach clashes with California over voter ID requirement in court
A man casts his ballot during early voting.
(
Jeff Kowalsky
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
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.
-
Voters will be asked in November if the city should adopt the charter model. Other OC cities like Santa Ana and Huntington Beach have adopted charters. -
The change will mean CalOptima members who fall off Medi-Cal will remain eligible to enroll with the plan. -
The 2026 Orange County Fair is offering plenty of new food creations this year, including a PB&J bacon cheeseburger and a Dubai chocolate deep-fried Oreo.
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.
Sponsored message
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.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
