California AG sues Shasta County over ballot measure, claiming it defies state law

California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Shasta County after voters approved Measure B in the June primary, a ballot measure that would ban mail-in voting, require photo ID for in-person voting, and mandate hand-counting of ballots. Bonta argued in court filings that the county lacks authority to impose such sweeping changes and that state law already overrides most provisions. He cited a 2024 case where the California Supreme Court struck down Huntington Beach’s voter ID requirements, reinforcing his position that Measure B conflicts with state election rules. Measure B’s supporters, including local advocate Rich Gallardo, have suggested the measure could be adjusted to comply with existing law, but Bonta’s lawsuit rejects this, stating that the entire measure was presented as a unified package with no lawful provisions. The lawsuit also notes that previous attempts by Shasta County to alter election procedures—such as scrapping its voting system in 2023 and pushing for hand-counting—were blocked by state lawmakers, who specifically targeted the county to prevent such changes. Shasta County’s current elections official, Clint Curtis, has backed parts of Measure B, including filming ballots during counting and using paper poll books. However, voters in the same primary election elected Joanna Francescut, Curtis’s opponent, to replace him starting January 2027. Francescut argued that Measure B’s passage was driven primarily by voter ID requirements, as proponents focused their campaign messaging narrowly on that issue rather than the broader restrictions. National polling shows broad public support for voter ID laws but also for expanded voting options like mail-in and early voting—provisions Measure B eliminates. Bonta’s lawsuit seeks an expedited court decision to prevent disruption to the November general election, where preparations are already underway. The case hinges on whether Measure B’s provisions can be severed or must be struck down entirely due to their interconnected nature and conflict with state election laws.