SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state officials have launched a legal challenge against a newly approved voting measure in Shasta County, arguing that the initiative conflicts with state election laws governing mail voting, voter identification requirements and ballot-counting procedures, according to court filings and statements released on Friday.
The lawsuit, filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, seeks to block implementation of Measure B, a ballot initiative approved by Shasta County voters earlier this month. State officials said the measure would overhaul local election procedures in ways that are not permitted under California law.
Measure B would require government-issued photo identification for voting, sharply restrict vote-by-mail, limit most early voting opportunities and require hand counting of ballots. The measure also calls for the creation of a county voter registration system separate from the state's election framework, according to the complaint filed by the state.
In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Bonta said the measure was inconsistent with state election statutes. “We are confident that the law is on our side and that Measure B will be struck down expeditiously,” he said. State officials argued that local governments cannot enact election rules that conflict with statewide requirements.
The legal dispute follows years of debate in Shasta County over election administration. The county became a focal point of election-related controversies after the 2020 presidential election, with activists and some local officials questioning voting procedures and advocating changes to ballot-counting methods. Previous efforts to move toward hand-counted ballots faced opposition from state authorities.
Supporters of Measure B have argued that the initiative would increase confidence in local elections. Opponents, including voting-rights organizations, contend that the measure would make voting more difficult and could disenfranchise eligible voters. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the League of Women Voters have previously said the proposal appears to violate state law.
The measure passed with support from a majority of participating voters, according to unofficial election results reported after the June primary election. State officials had signaled before certification of the results that legal action could follow if the initiative were approved.
Earlier legal challenges sought to prevent the measure from appearing on the ballot. Courts declined to remove it before the election, with judges indicating that questions regarding the legality of implementation could be addressed after voters cast their ballots.
As of Monday, the state's lawsuit remained pending. Shasta County officials had not announced any immediate changes to election procedures while the case proceeds, and a court schedule had not yet been publicly released. Details regarding the next phase of the litigation remain unclear.
