California officials have filed a lawsuit to block Shasta County’s Measure B, a ballot initiative passed by voters on June 2, 2026, that aims to end most mail voting, require government-issued photo ID for voter registration and voting, and mandate hand-counting of ballots.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber filed the lawsuit on Friday in California’s Third District Court of Appeal, arguing that the measure violates state election laws.
Measure B, which was approved by 55% of Shasta County voters, seeks to overhaul local election processes by limiting absentee voting to only the infirm, military, and U.S. citizens living overseas. It also requires ballots to be hand-counted at the precinct level. However, California law does not require voters to present identification, and state officials argue that the measure conflicts with existing laws.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “Measure B is legally indefensible. It directly conflicts with state law and threatens to upend the orderly administration of elections.” He emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue before the upcoming November general election. Secretary of State Weber added, “By ending mail-in voting, restricting voting options, and requiring hand counting of ballots, it would dismantle protections that help voters actively participate.”
Shasta County has a history of attempting to change election procedures based on unproven claims of election fraud. The county previously faced legal challenges when it attempted to hand-count ballots after discontinuing its voting system without a replacement.
Proponents of Measure B have suggested that the measure could be adjusted to comply with state laws, but the lawsuit argues that the entire measure must be struck down as it was presented to voters as a single package. The outcome of the lawsuit will have significant implications for the November midterm elections.
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