Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the securing of an appealable order from the Orange County Superior Court regarding Huntington Beach's voter identification law, Measure A. This development allows the state to proceed with its appeal against the measure.

"We sought, and have now secured, an appealable order from the Orange County Superior Court," said Attorney General Bonta. "We look forward to filing our appeal and making our case before the California Fourth District Court of Appeal that Huntington Beach’s voter ID policy is unlawful."

The legal proceedings began when, on November 15, 2024, the Orange County Superior Court ruled that the state's lawsuit against Huntington Beach was "not ripe for adjudication." The court found Measure A to be "permissive and discretionary in character," indicating no current conflict with state election laws. Following this decision, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber were given 20 days to file an amended petition.

On December 5, 2024, both officials declared their intention to challenge the court's decision by requesting an Entry of Judgment. In their filing, they stated:

Elected not to file an amended complaint by the time allotted.

Respectfully disagreed with the court’s November 15, 2024 order and sought an appealable judgment as soon as possible, to give the parties the necessary time to resolve the issues presented by this matter before planning for the 2026 elections begins.

With this latest court decision granting an appealable order, Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber can now move forward with their appeal process.