California Sues Shasta County Over Voter-Approved Limits on Mail Voting
State officials filed suit Friday in a state appeals court seeking to block a Shasta County measure that restricts mail voting and requires photo identification. The complaint argues the measure conflicts with state election law ahead of the November election.
Los Angeles TimesCalifornia officials sued Shasta County on Friday in the 3rd District Court of Appeal, asking the court to strike down a voter-approved measure that would eliminate most mail-in voting and require government-issued photo identification. The measure, known as Measure B, would limit voting by mail to the infirm, military personnel, and U.S. citizens living overseas.
It would also require all elections to be held in person on a single day and create a separate county voter registration system.
State officials said Measure B violates California election laws that require uniform rules across the state. The complaint asks for a quick decision because state law requires election officials to begin mailing voter information guides and ballots for the November election in September and early October. A county spokesperson said the county could not comment on the ongoing litigation.
2023, county supervisors replaced voting machines with hand counting of ballots. Last year, the supervisors appointed a new registrar of voters who eliminated nine of the county's 13 ballot drop boxes and supported Measure B. The registrar was voted out of office this month and will be replaced in January.
A leader of the citizens group that wrote Measure B said the group expected the state to sue if the measure passed.
