Local Politics
Judge strikes down Shasta County’s Measure B, keeping mail voting in place
A Shasta County judge permanently blocked Measure B, which would have restricted voting by mail, required photo ID and mandated hand counting of ballots.
Shasta County voters will continue to receive ballots by mail under California election law after a judge permanently blocked Measure B on Monday, November 9th. The measure, approved by 55.6% of voters in the June 2nd primary, would have ended mail voting for most residents and changed how the county registers voters and counts ballots.
Shasta County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Hanna ruled that Measure B conflicts with California law and goes beyond what Shasta County can do under its charter. Hanna found that running elections is a matter of statewide concern, so state election law governs the county.
What Measure B would have changed
The measure would have required voters to show government photo ID both to register and to vote in person. It would have concentrated voting on Election Day, with limited exceptions for voters with disabilities, military voters and U.S. citizens living overseas. It also called for ballots to be counted by hand and for Shasta County to maintain its own voter registration system apart from California’s statewide system.
How the case got here
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber brought their challenge to Shasta County Superior Court on June 30th. Hanna temporarily blocked the measure on August 7th. Later that month, the state’s Third District Court of Appeal kept that order in place and declined to let parts of the measure take effect for the November 3rd election, which went ahead under existing state rules.
After Monday’s ruling, Weber said the measure would have made voting harder for eligible residents. Alexander Haberbush, an attorney for Measure B supporters, said they are weighing an appeal. He argued that the ruling goes too far in limiting how charter counties can run elections.