California is one of 14 states that don’t require government-issued identification to vote. Now, the state will expressly prohibit local governments from requiring it too.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed SB 1174. The legislation was authored by State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) in response to Huntington Beach’s new voter ID law.
After voters approved the measure in March, Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the city.
"The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy and Huntington Beach's voter ID policy flies in the face of this principle," Bonta said at the time.
A majority of Americans support voter ID requirements as a way to ensure election integrity. Huntington Beach’s measure garnered more than 53% of the vote.
Opponents of voter ID laws say they present unnecessary barriers, especially for non-white voters. Min has also argued that California needs conformity for voting rights protections across the state.
The signing of 1174 portends another legal fight between Sacramento and surf city, as Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark indicated in an interview with LAist.
“The state cannot pass any laws that strip us of our constitutional rights, so that law does not apply to us or affect our new election laws,” she told the publication, emphasizing Huntington Beach's charter city status.
SB 1174 will not impact the upcoming November election. The legislation takes effect January 1, 2025. Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy wouldn't take effect until 2026.