California Court Invalidates Shasta County Election Measure
A California court has ruled that Shasta County's Measure B is unlawful, ensuring that the county's elections will continue under state law.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. secured a final judgment declaring Shasta County’s Measure B unlawful and permanently enjoining its implementation (1). The measure would have required voters to present government-issued photo identification to register to vote and vote in person, eliminated vote-by-mail and most early voting options, mandated the hand-counting of ballots, and created a separate county voter registration system disconnected from the state (1). [1]
The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber argued that Measure B was unlawful because it exceeded Shasta County’s constitutional authority and directly conflicted with California laws governing voter identification, vote-by-mail, early voting, ballot counting, and the statewide voter registration system (1). The court’s decision ensures Shasta County will continue to hold elections in accordance with state election laws (1). [1]
With more than 116,000 registered voters in Shasta County and critical election deadlines approaching, immediate relief was necessary to prevent Measure B from upending the county’s election system and to ensure California’s election laws are applied uniformly (1). Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of ensuring every eligible voter can participate in the democratic process (1). [1]
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber secured a final judgment declaring Shasta County’s Measure B unlawful and permanently enjoining its implementation (1). The measure, which would have required voters to present government-issued photo identification to register to vote and vote in person, was challenged on the grounds that it exceeded the county’s constitutional authority and directly conflicted with California laws governing voter identification, vote-by-mail, early voting, ballot counting, and the statewide voter registration system (1). [1]
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The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber argued that Measure B would have disrupted the November election, with more than 116,000 registered voters in Shasta County and critical election deadlines approaching (1). Immediate relief was necessary to prevent Measure B from upending the county’s election system and to ensure California’s election laws are applied uniformly (1). [1]
A preliminary injunction was secured to block the measure from being implemented during the November 3, 2026, election, and successfully defended on appeal (1). The final judgment invalidates Measure B and ensures Shasta County will continue to hold elections in accordance with state election laws (1). [1]
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. secured a final judgment declaring Shasta County’s Measure B unlawful and permanently enjoining its implementation (1). The measure, which would have required voters to present government-issued photo identification to register to vote and vote in person, was challenged on the grounds that it exceeded the county’s constitutional authority and conflicted with state election laws (1). [1]
Among other things, Measure B would have eliminated vote-by-mail and most early voting options, mandated the hand-counting of ballots, and created a separate county voter registration system disconnected from the state (1). These provisions were deemed incompatible with California laws governing voter identification, ballot counting, and the statewide voter registration system (1). [1]
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A preliminary injunction was secured to block the measure from being implemented during the November 3, 2026, election, and successfully defended on appeal (1). The final judgment invalidates Measure B and ensures Shasta County will continue to hold its elections in accordance with state election laws (1). [1]
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. secured a final judgment declaring Shasta County’s Measure B unlawful and permanently enjoining its implementation (1). The measure, which would have required voters to present government-issued photo identification to register to vote and vote in person, was deemed to directly conflict with California laws governing voter identification, vote-by-mail, early voting, ballot counting, and the statewide voter registration system (1). [1]
Among other things, Measure B would have eliminated vote-by-mail and most early voting options, mandated the hand-counting of ballots, and created a separate county voter registration system disconnected from the state (1). Attorney General Bonta and Secretary of State Weber filed a lawsuit against Shasta County, secured a preliminary injunction that blocked the measure from being implemented during the November 3, 2026, election, and successfully defended the preliminary injunction on appeal (1). [1]
With more than 116,000 registered voters in Shasta County and critical election deadlines approaching, immediate relief was necessary to prevent Measure B from upending the county’s election system and to ensure California’s election laws are applied uniformly (1). The final judgment invalidates Measure B and ensures Shasta County will continue to hold their elections in accordance with state election laws (1). [1]
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Sources
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases
Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.
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