California Sues to Block Shasta County's 55% Measure B Mail Voting Ban
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14
California Sues to Block Shasta County's 55% Measure B Mail Voting Ban
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14
Summary
State officials asked California's Third District Court of Appeal to strike down Shasta County's Measure B before the November general election, targeting its ban on most mail voting, photo-ID requirements and hand-count mandate.
The lawsuit argues the voter-approved measure violates California election law, even though county voters passed it in June with 55% support.
Measure B would sharply alter voting in a county where about 90% of voters mailed ballots or used drop boxes in the November 2025 special election, according to state data.
Supporters called the suit another sign of state hostility toward citizen initiatives, while Shasta County said it could not comment on the ongoing litigation.
When local voters approve new election rules, can state law legally overrule the outcome?
Beyond the legal fight, what are the true costs of replacing voting machines with hand-counting?
Shasta County’s Measure B Faces State Lawsuit: High-Stakes Battle Over Voter ID and Election Law Before November 2026
Overview
The State of California, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, has urgently sued to block Shasta County’s Measure B from taking effect. This lawsuit comes just months before the 2026 midterm elections and follows a recent court decision that struck down Huntington Beach’s similar Measure A for violating state law. The state’s legal challenge argues that Measure B raises the same issues as Measure A, emphasizing the need for uniform election procedures across California. This action highlights the state’s commitment to upholding election integrity and preventing local measures that conflict with established law.