Why the legal clock is now ticking on Huntington Beach's 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.

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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.

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.