“California legislature passes bill banning voter ID laws”

Originally published on the Washington Examiner

(The Center Square) – The California legislature passed a bill banning local governments from adopting voter identification laws for local elections. California does not require identification to vote, but earlier this year, the City of Huntington Beach approved a voter ID requirement for municipal elections starting in 2026. This bill would override Huntington Beach’s policy.

“An overwhelming body of evidence proves that voter ID laws only subvert voter turnout and create barriers to law abiding voters,” wrote bill author State Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine. “To register to vote in California, voters are already required to provide their driver’s license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number.

State Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, introduced a failed amendment to the bill, SB 1174, that would have explicitly banned undocumented immigrants from voting.

Undocumented immigrants are able to secure California identification numbers, and noncitizens are allowed to vote in local school board elections in San Francisco. Huntington Beach’s neighboring City of Santa Ana is considering following San Francisco’s lead; a November ballot measure would allow noncitizens to vote in all, not just school board, municipal elections in the city.