California is suing the coast city of Huntington Beach over its voter identification measure which requires residents to present proof of identification when voting at in-person polling locations.
“It is violative of California state election law, undermines that process and threatens the constitutionally protected right to vote,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who oversees elections across California, said the voter ID requirement would be “harmful” to voters and called it a solution in search of a problem.
“This voter ID measure conflicts with state law,” Weber said at the same press conference. “Not only is it a solution in search of a problem, laws like these are harmful to California voters, especially low-income, the elderly, people of color, those with disabilities, and young voters.”
Proposed legislation from State Sen. Dave Min also seeks to prevent the city from implementing the measure by adding language to the state elections code that says cities can’t ask for IDs at voting centers.
“The attorney general’s press release that the city’s voter ID requirements violate state law is inconsistent with, in fact in direct conflict with, Sen. David Min’s new bill attempting to make Huntington Beach’s voter ID illegal,” Gates said in a statement. “That blatant inconsistency speaks volumes.”
Bonta claims that the measure was “intentionally brazen and will now be subject to accountability in court.”
