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In the name of “democracy,” California Democrats subverted the will of Huntington Beach voters this week by passing a state law that overrides a voter ID requirement they approved earlier this year.

SB 1174 stipulates that local governments “shall not enact or enforce any charter provision, ordinance, or regulation requiring a person to present identification for the purpose of voting or submitting a ballot at any polling place, vote center, or other location where ballots are cast or submitted, unless required by state or federal law.” The measure cleared the State Assembly (57-16) on Tuesday and was previously passed by the state Senate (30-8) in May.

Democrat state Sen. Dave Min introduced the bill earlier this year with the intent of halting efforts by Huntington Beach to protect the integrity of its elections. (The city falls within Min’s district).

Huntington Beach Measure A was proposed by the Huntington Beach City Council late last year and subsequently approved by voters during California’s March primary elections. The amendment to the city charter authorizes the local government to require electors provide identification in order to vote in municipal races. 

The measure is slated to take effect in 2026 and would also allow Huntington Beach officials to “provide more in-person voting locations” and “monitor ballot drop-boxes.”

In an attempt to undermine the will Huntington Beach voters, the self-professed party of “democracy” leapt into action after the amendment’s passage. Democrat Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the city in April, baselessly alleging its voter ID requirement “flies in the face” of the notion that the “right to freely cast your vote is the foundation of our democracy.”

Bonta contended that local laws such as Huntington Beach’s voter ID provision are “preempted and invalid” in matters in which “local law conflicts with state law reasonably tailored to the resolution of a statewide concern.” As previously noted by Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates, however, Min’s introduction of SB 1174 proves that the attorney general’s claims of illegality hold no weight.

“Gates said this proves that Bonta [is] wrong — if passing voter ID laws was illegal, why was a new bill necessary?” according to Courthouse News Service.

When pressed on whether Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign SB 1174 into law, Newsom Communications Director Izzy Gardon told The Federalist the measure “will be evaluated on its merits” and noted that the “deadline to sign or veto legislation on the Governor’s desk is September 30th.”

California Democrats’ legal war against Huntington Beach comes as part of leftists’ nationwide efforts to smear and undermine widely supported election safeguards such as voter ID.

Democrats falsely claim these laws are designed to suppress voters, especially those who aren’t white. Of course, there’s no evidence to support such assertions, as multiple court rulings have found.

Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood