SACRAMENTO, CA - The California legislature has passed a bill effectively banning local governments from adopting voter identification laws for local elections and now that bill awaits the signature of Governor Gavin Newsom.
According to the Washington Examiner, California does not require identification to vote, but earlier this year, the City of Huntington Beach approved a voter ID requirement for municipal elections beginning in 2026.
This bill would effectively override Huntington Beach's policy. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Huntington Beach for its ordinance, claiming that it violates state and federal law because most elections involve voting for municipal, state, and federal office at the same time.
The Epoch Times reported that back in May, the Senate approved the bill in a 30-8 vote. Huntington Beach argues that the fact legislators introduced SB 1174 suggests that was, in fact, permissible for its voters to approve such an ordinance. Since Huntington Beach is a charter city with greater rights under the state constitution, the city is likely to pursue legal options to defend its ordinance against the law, if it is signed by the governor.
SB 1174 bill author State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), wrote in a statement, "An overwhelming body of evidence proves that voter ID laws only subvert voter turnout and create barriers to law abiding voters. To register to vote in California, voters are already required to provide their driver's license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number."
When referring to questions of election integrity in the 2020 presidential election Min said, "We cannot have 100 different charter cities making up 100 different sets of voting rules, based on fringe conspiracy theories."
In a May 21st Senate floor hearing, Min said that SB 1174 would create a "statewide standard" that prevents cities from enacting their own policies, which he said would create inequality. He said, "SB 1174 would try to address this matter and ensure that local jurisdictions cannot impose their own voter ID requirements to try to engage in culture wars and try to disenfranchise voters." He added, "Healthy democracies rely on robust access to polls."
Voters in California are required to show identification only if they didn't provide a driver's license or the last four digits of their social security number when registering, but the secretary of state also accepts credit or debit cards, student IDs, and an ID from a commercial establishment.
State Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R, Corona), introduced a failed amendment to the bill that would have explicitly banned undocumented immigrants from voting. Undocumented immigrants are able to secure California identification numbers and noncitizens are allowed to vote in local school board elections in San Francisco. Huntington Beach's neighboring City of Santa Ana is considering following San Francisco's lead where a November ballot measure would all noncitizens to vote in all, not just school board, municipal elections in the city.
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said that Min's bill is "pure political symbolism." He said in a statement to the Epoch Times, "The state is running headlong into another legal clash, which it will lose miserably. Huntington Beach has it right, the state has it completely wrong. And, all Californians want election integrity. It's common sense."
Huntington Beach Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark said that residents have said they would feel more secure if IDs are checked at in-person polling stations.
The mayor said, "We put it out there on the ballot, they said we want this and the state is doing everything within their power to stop us from honoring what the voters have been asking us for." According to lawmakers, California is one of 15 states that does not ask for photo ID at the ballot box. Newsom has until September 30th to sign or veto the bill.
According to the Washington Examiner, California does not require identification to vote, but earlier this year, the City of Huntington Beach approved a voter ID requirement for municipal elections beginning in 2026.
This bill would effectively override Huntington Beach's policy. California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Huntington Beach for its ordinance, claiming that it violates state and federal law because most elections involve voting for municipal, state, and federal office at the same time.
The Epoch Times reported that back in May, the Senate approved the bill in a 30-8 vote. Huntington Beach argues that the fact legislators introduced SB 1174 suggests that was, in fact, permissible for its voters to approve such an ordinance. Since Huntington Beach is a charter city with greater rights under the state constitution, the city is likely to pursue legal options to defend its ordinance against the law, if it is signed by the governor.
SB 1174 bill author State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), wrote in a statement, "An overwhelming body of evidence proves that voter ID laws only subvert voter turnout and create barriers to law abiding voters. To register to vote in California, voters are already required to provide their driver's license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number."
When referring to questions of election integrity in the 2020 presidential election Min said, "We cannot have 100 different charter cities making up 100 different sets of voting rules, based on fringe conspiracy theories."
In a May 21st Senate floor hearing, Min said that SB 1174 would create a "statewide standard" that prevents cities from enacting their own policies, which he said would create inequality. He said, "SB 1174 would try to address this matter and ensure that local jurisdictions cannot impose their own voter ID requirements to try to engage in culture wars and try to disenfranchise voters." He added, "Healthy democracies rely on robust access to polls."
Voters in California are required to show identification only if they didn't provide a driver's license or the last four digits of their social security number when registering, but the secretary of state also accepts credit or debit cards, student IDs, and an ID from a commercial establishment.
State Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R, Corona), introduced a failed amendment to the bill that would have explicitly banned undocumented immigrants from voting. Undocumented immigrants are able to secure California identification numbers and noncitizens are allowed to vote in local school board elections in San Francisco. Huntington Beach's neighboring City of Santa Ana is considering following San Francisco's lead where a November ballot measure would all noncitizens to vote in all, not just school board, municipal elections in the city.
Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said that Min's bill is "pure political symbolism." He said in a statement to the Epoch Times, "The state is running headlong into another legal clash, which it will lose miserably. Huntington Beach has it right, the state has it completely wrong. And, all Californians want election integrity. It's common sense."
Huntington Beach Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark said that residents have said they would feel more secure if IDs are checked at in-person polling stations.
The mayor said, "We put it out there on the ballot, they said we want this and the state is doing everything within their power to stop us from honoring what the voters have been asking us for." According to lawmakers, California is one of 15 states that does not ask for photo ID at the ballot box. Newsom has until September 30th to sign or veto the bill.
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Comments
2024-09-04T12:14-0700 | Comment by: thomas
You have to have one for alcohol or cigarettes, But not to vote lol Dems are cheaters and we all know that.
2024-09-05T13:10-0700 | Comment by: Carlton
Democrat Marxist aren't interested in what the people want .