HUNTINGTON BEACH CIVIC CENTER (Orange County Tribune photo).
A closed session will precede Tuesday night’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council, as the city leaders discuss four legal actions involving the city.
Topping the list is State of California vs. Huntington Beach, in which the state attorney general’s office has brought legal action against the city about the voter identification requirement approved by voters in 2024.
A state law prohibits such a requirement for voting, but the City of Huntington Beach has argued that its status as a charter city enables it to set its own voting regulations.
However, that legal argument has not been well-received by the courts, and last week the state Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal of a lower court decision unfavorable to the city.
Also to be considered is the case of Southwest Voter Registration Education Project vs. Huntington Beach. The SWVREP has been successful in compelling numerous cities and school districts to abandon their “at-large” systems for governing councils or boards in favor of a “by-district” configuration. Area cities and school districts such as Garden Grove, Westminster, Seal Beach, etc. have already made the switch.
Southwest group argues that at-large voting unlawfully dilutes the representation of minority voters.
The council will meet in closed session at 4:30 p.m. with the regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, 2000 Main St,
