ExclusiveHUGE Voter ID Lawsuit #frontpageshow #frontpageexclusive

The city of Huntington Beach, California has been sued by the state over a measure passed that allows the city to require voters to show ID in order to vote, but city officials say that they won't give in. Over 53% of voters approved a series of amendments to the city's charter that would authorize city officials to monitor ballot boxes and ask voters for identification. Last Monday, the Office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit alleging the new voter ID rules would only serve to suppress voter participation without providing any discernible local benefit. Mayor Gracie Vandermark said that there's no data or research to support these claims by the state. To say that low-income minorities or people of color cannot obtain identification is insulting and racist. Vandermark said, when the state announces a lawsuit like this over a measure adopted by the people of the city, the state is declaring war on the people of the city. I would like to make this a call to action. I'd like to call for other cities who feel that they are being bullied by Sacramento to please join us. Vandermark shared her experience going to a polling center where the clerk asked for her name and address and then handed her a ballot without asking for ID. She said, if someone knew my name and address, they could have gotten my ballot. This experience contradicts Bonta's assertion that the state election law already offers strong protections. Michael Gates, a city attorney who was voted in by the voters, pointed out that ID is required for almost everything in social life. Even small children need to provide identification when registering for a game and it's a daily activity for people in a civilized society. Tony Strickland, a Hangar City councilman and former mayor, said, the governor and the attorney general are trying to tell us how to do our jobs. And Strickland emphasized that they have done a poor job in Sacramento in many ways. He said, do your job and we'll do our job.