Huntington Beach May Move Forward with Voter ID Measures After Ruling

A local judge has dismissed California’s lawsuit targeting Huntington Beach, allowing the city to potentially enforce a recent voter identification measure passed by residents.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas issued the ruling, finding that state laws do not prevent the city from proceeding with this local policy, which is among the few voter ID requirements currently proposed in the state.

City Attorney Michael Gates expressed satisfaction with the decision, labeling it a significant setback for the state. He made it clear that Huntington Beach would not back down against any intimidation from state officials.
Meanwhile, the office of State Attorney General Rob Bonta commented that the ruling does not settle the underlying issues of the case, emphasizing their belief that Huntington Beach’s identification policy contradicts state law and could disenfranchise vulnerable populations.

Earlier this year, residents voted in favor of a measure that grants local authorities the ability to impose voter ID requirements beginning in 2026. The initiative also aims to expand in-person voting locations and increase oversight of ballot drop boxes during elections.
Just one month after this local decision, Bonta filed a legal challenge citing that the measure could disproportionately affect low-income, disabled, elderly, and minority voters in the city of nearly 200,000 residents.
Concurrently, in September, California Governor Gavin Newsom enacted legislation that prohibits local jurisdictions from mandating voter identification, specifically targeting the Huntington Beach measure. However, this law won’t take effect until the next year, leaving its implications for the current lawsuit uncertain.

Gates maintains that the city has the right to implement election-related regulations under the state constitution and is prepared to defend the wishes of local voters.
How the voter ID policy will be executed remains undetermined, although individuals in California have multiple options for casting their votes: in-person, through drop boxes, or by mail. The Orange County Registrar, Bob Page, has opted not to comment on the litigation, but he has suggested that the city might conduct independent elections or align their local elections with general state elections for administrative support.

Huntington Beach, often referred to as “Surf City USA” due to its picturesque coastlines and surf culture, has a history of conflicts with state authorities regarding local governance on various issues, including immigration and housing policies.
The City Council, dominated by conservative members, proposed the voter ID measure following debates on several contentious issues, including the management of public library resources and the display of certain flags. Despite a Democratic majority in Orange County, Huntington Beach is a Republican stronghold, boasting over 55,000 registered GOP voters compared to approximately 41,000 registered Democrats.