Antonio Ray Harvey
Secretary of State Weber, Atty. Gen. Bonta Warn Huntington Beach: Voting Proposal Would Violate State Law
On Oct. 5, 2023, the Huntington Beach City Council will decide whether it will approve a plan to put a proposal before voters in March 2024 asking them whether the city should require voter identification during the city municipal polls. However, on Sept. 28, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber wrote a letter to Huntington Beach warning the city’s leaders that the proposal is in violation of California Elections Code section 18543.
By Antonio Ray Harvey,
Tanu Henry, and
Joe W. Bowers Jr.
California Black Media
On Oct. 5, 2023, the Huntington Beach City Council will decide whether it will approve a plan to put a proposal before voters in March 2024 asking them whether the city should require voter identification during the city municipal polls.
However, on Sept. 28, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber wrote a letter to Huntington Beach warning the city’s leaders that the proposal is in violation of California Elections Code section 18543.
“The right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy,” said Bonta.
“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,” the Attorney General continued. “If the city moves forward and places it on the ballot, we stand ready to take appropriate action to ensure that voters’ rights are protected.”
Weber said California “cannot turn back the clock on voting rights.”
“Voter ID requirements at the polls have historically been used to turn eligible voters away from exercising the franchise, especially low-income voters and voters of color,” said Weber. “Not only is the action unlawful, it is also unnecessary because California already has guardrails in place for establishing both eligibility of each voter and for confirming their identity when returning their ballot.”
The letter points out that voter eligibility functions are the duty of the Secretary of State and the County Registrar.
