The California Supreme Court declined to hear a city’s appeal to keep its voter ID requirements in place, leading state leaders like Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber to celebrate.
Following a 2024 special election, Huntington Beach residents passed a city charter amendment permitting the city to check voter’s identification for municipal elections.
The amendment’s passage came at odds with a state law signed in December 2024, which prohibits all California cities from requiring a voter ID check in any election.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Nico Dourbetas ruled in favor of Huntington Beach keeping its voter ID requirement in April 2025; however, a three-judge panel of the state Fourth District Court of Appeals overruled the judge’s ruling in November.
And now the state’s highest court is affirming the determination that voter ID laws even for municipal elections undermine the “integrity of the electoral process.”
“Today’s victory makes one thing crystal clear: No city in our state, charter and non-charter alike, is above the law,” Bonta said in a statement on Wednesday.
“All along, Secretary of State Weber and I have maintained that Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy is illegal, and now, the state’s highest court has weighed in and agreed with us. Measure A won’t be taking effect — ever.”
Weber also celebrated the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case.
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“I am grateful the California Supreme Court did not disturb the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruling,” she said. “This is another victory for California, for voters and for democracy.”