HUNTINGTON BEACH (CNS) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta Sunday criticized a judge's ruling against the state's challenge to Huntington Beach's voter ID law approved by residents earlier this year.
In Friday's ruling, Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas held that the city's Measure A is not prohibited by state law.
"The Court finds that this matter is not ripe for adjudication, as & 705, subd. (a)(2) of the City's Charter is permissive and discretionary in character, and thus currently presents no conflict with state elections law," Dourbetas wrote.
Bonta disagreed.
"Under both existing law and Senate Bill 1174, all local governments - - including charter cities like Huntington Beach -- are prohibited from disenfranchising voters at the polls by implementing voter ID requirements," Bonta said Sunday. "Let me be clear: that has not changed. We disagree with the court's decision that it is too early to bring our lawsuit, and remain confident in the strength of our case."
Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber have 20 days to file an amended petition.
A narrow majority of Huntington Beach voters passed the measure in the March election. It amended the City Charter to authorize the city to implement a requirement for voters to show identification when casting in- person ballots for municipal elections, and would go into effect in 2026.
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates defended the measure after Bonta filed the challenge last April.
"The city of Huntington Beach's Voter ID and other elections measures approved by the voters on March 5 to increase voter participation by mandating at least 20 more in-person polling locations and monitoring of ballot drop boxes are not only permissible, the city's authority is provided for them in the California Constitution, Article XI, Section 5(b), for local elections," Gates said. "The people of Huntington Beach have made their voices clear on this issue and the people's decision on the March 5th ballot measures for election integrity is final. To that end, the city will vigorously uphold and defend the will of the people."
Copyright 2024, City News Service, Inc.