A proposal before the Huntington Beach City Council to require voter identification for local elections isn’t sitting well with some top Sacramento leadership.
California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber sent a letter to city leaders Thursday, Sept. 28, warning the proposal conflicts with state election laws.
In a statement, Bonta said they “stand ready to take appropriate action to ensure that voters’ rights are protected” — though didn’t say what that would look like. The council is slated to make a decision on Oct. 5.
“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy,” Bonta said. “State elections law are in place to ensure the fundamental right to vote without imposing unnecessary obstacles that can reduce voter participation or disproportionately burden low-income voters, racial and ethnic minorities, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Huntington Beach’s proposed amendment violates state law and would impose additional barriers to voting.”
Under state law, voters at the polls are only required to provide their name and address. Eligibility to vote is determined by the county registrar and the Secretary of State when voters register.
City Attorney Michael Gates called Bonta’s letter “another scare tactic” with little merit. Gates said charter cities – Huntington Beach is among dozens in the state – have the authority to conduct city elections, and Bonta’s letter appears to be more concerned about policy than the legality.
“How Huntington Beach votes in its election and what verification it requires is not a matter of statewide concern,” Gates said. “He’s demonstrably overarching and undermining what it means for a state law to be a matter of statewide concern.”
There are three charter amendments the council has been discussing for the March primary ballot, with each bundling together several reforms. They are supported by the council majority. The…
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