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.
Why the legal clock is now ticking on Huntington Beach's voter ID law
The voting booths at the Central Library in Huntington Beach.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Listen
0:39
Ruling near on Huntington Beach's controversial Voter ID law
A California appeals court heard arguments Wednesday in dual challenges to Huntington Beach’s voter ID law. The law would allow the city to go beyond state requirements by asking voters to show identification when they cast a ballot, in addition to when they register to vote.
The backstory
Huntington Beach voters approved a measure in 2024 allowing the city to require people to show ID at polling places. That contradicts state law — voters in California are asked to provide ID when they register to vote, but generally not at polling places. The legal wrangling began: the state and a Huntington Beach resident subsequently sued the city. An Orange County Superior Court Judge sided with the city earlier this year. And the state and the local resident appealed the decision ... which brings us to Wednesday's legal arguments.
-
Online comments border on hate, with many based on cultural clichés and stereotypes. They touch open cultural wounds for some Argentine Americans -
In the suit, the contractor alleges that the city of L.A. is misplacing blame in construction-related disputes and refusing to extend contract deadlines. -
Applications to volunteer at the L.A. Olympics and Paralympics are now open.
What does Huntington Beach argue?
The city’s lawyer argued that California’s constitution gives charter cities the right to manage their own elections. He also said it’s too early for the court to strike down Huntington Beach’s voter ID law since the city has yet to lay out any plans for implementing it.
Sponsored message
What does the state argue?
In court, a lawyer for California argued that Huntington Beach’s powers as a charter city do not extend to voting because it’s a matter of statewide concern. The lawyer also said it would be impractical since the city would have to keep municipal elections separate from statewide elections, requiring two separate ballots, separate polling places, and separate requirements for casting a ballot.
The bigger picture
Voter identification has long been a controversial issue across the country. States have taken a variety of approaches, and many have been challenged in court. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on election integrity aimed, in part, at strengthening “voter citizenship verification.” The Department of Justice has also sought access to voter registration rolls across the country. Many states and counties, including Orange County, are fighting the effort in court.
What happens next?
The appeals court has 90 days to issue an opinion in the Huntington Beach case.
-
City Council members were concerned over how much it would cost for Irvine, which has a growing deficit. -
Anaheim's ARTIC train station uses a technology called radiant cooling. It's more energy efficient than traditional air conditioning, and it feels nice too. -
Wes Anderson night at the Bowl, the Library turns 100, a mahjong social and more of the best things to do this weekend.
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
