HUNTINGTON CIVIC CENTER with voting drop box in foreground (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

Huntington Beach’s controversial voter ID law hit another – potentially final – roadblock this week.
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to hear the city’s appeal of a lower court ruling that held that the law requiring voters to show identification when casting ballots in city elections was contrary to state law and unconstitutional.

“Today’s victory makes one thing clear: no city in our state, charter alike, is above the law,” said Attorney General Ron Bonta.

Voters in Huntington Beach in 2024 approved a charter amendment calling for poll workers to be able to check voter ID. A state law prohibits that, but then-City Attorney Michael Gates assured the city council that Huntington Beach’s status as a charter city gives it the power to not comply with that law.
State courts have generally rejected that theory.

Gates left the city in 2025 to work in the federal Justice Department in Washington. DC., but left after a short period. He returned to the city attorney’s office as chief deputy city attorney and recently announced his candidacy for the post of state attorney general as a Republican.

City officials have not commented publicly on the issue, buta discussion of litigation of the state’s lawsuit on the matter is on the agenda of Tuesday’s night meeting of the city council in closed session.