Huntington Beach may implement new voter ID rules in the 2026 election following Monday’s ruling by an Orange County Superior Court Judge.
Judge Nico Dourbetas ruled that a voter-approved measure allowing for voter ID is not superseded by state law, as long as it applies to local rather than statewide elections.
“There is no showing that a voter identification requirement compromises the integrity of a municipal election,” Dourbetas stated in his ruling. “Municipal election results do not lack integrity because only residents of a municipality who are eligible to vote participated in the election.”
Opponents of voter ID believe the requirement disenfranchises marginalized voters by making it more difficult to cast a ballot. Those in favor of voter ID argue it is necessary to maintain election integrity and prevent voter fraud.
Huntington Beach would be the first city in the state to make photo ID a requirement for casting local ballots. The city may have to provide separate ballots for state and local offices to comply with the ruling. Notably, the measure only applies to in-person voting.
Mayor Pat Burns called the ruling a victory for all California charter cities. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber have vowed to appeal.
Read more at LAist, Voice of OC, and the Los Angeles Times.