The Brief

Huntington Beach voters have spoken: Yes, yes and no on Measures A, B and C.

The Orange County Registrar of Voters released its latest count as of 5:43 p.m. March 22, and reported that all outstanding ballots had been processed. The measures have been framed as one of the first big tests of residents' feelings about the city's sharp turn to the right under the leadership of an ultra-conservative city council majority, elected in 2022. Here are the results on the three measures that have roiled this beach community:

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Courtesy OC Registrar

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OCVote.gov

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There were no surprises as the leads were established shortly after election day, and the gap held steady. Opponents of Measures A and B conceded defeat a few days into the vote counting process.

The election was March 5. You might be asking yourself, why does it take so long to make it all official?

As a recent LAist story explained: Californians overwhelmingly vote by mail — more than 87% of votes cast in the 2022 general election were mail-in ballots. Those ballots can be postmarked up to and including Election Day. They're counted as long as the ballot arrives within seven days (for the primary, that was Tuesday, March 12).

It's all part of the long and meticulous voting process in California: The Secretary of State is slated to certify the final primary results on April 12.

Here is a closer look at the measures that went before Huntington Beach voters:

Measure A

Measure A would change Huntington Beach's charter (like a constitution for cities) to allow the city to require voters to show identification in municipal elections starting in 2026. It would also allow the city to monitor ballot drop boxes and add 20 new voting locations dispersed throughout the city.

Supporters said the measure would restore voters' trust in the election process and ensure that only verified registered voters are casting ballots. 

The proposal set off alarm bells among voting rights advocates and state leaders, who point to evidence that voter ID requirements disproportionately affect low-income people and non-white voters. They say the state and county already have robust measures in place to ensure voters are who they say they are.

Bottom line: A court challenge is all but guaranteed.

Measure B

Measure B would add a section to Huntington Beach's charter to limit the city's display of flags on city property to government and military flags, along with the POW/MIA flag, and, around the Summer Olympic Games, the Olympic flag.

Supporters say government flags best represent unity and equality, and that the measure will ensure no flags are flown that favor particular groups

Opponents, however, say the real purpose of the measure is to make it nearly impossible to fly the Pride flag on city property. (The current city council rescinded an earlier council's decision to fly the rainbow Pride flag each spring.)

Measure C

By contrast to A and B, Measure C struggled out of the gate.

The measure was an in-the-weeds initiative that would address the inner-workings of the city government. The measure would change the rules for filling city council vacancies, require the city to adopt a two-year, or biennial, budget, and change the rules for canceling city council meetings.

For example, Measure C would allow the mayor or a majority of city council members to cancel a city council meeting. It also specifies that at least one city council meeting must be held each month. Currently, the city's charter requires the council to hold meetings twice a month.

The measure would also require the city to adopt a two-year budget rather than an annual budget. According to an analysis of the proposal by city staff, half of the biggest cities in Orange County make their budgets on a two-year cycle.

Supporters say adopting a two-year budget cycle would give city departments greater stability and allow for longer-term planning. They also say it would give city leaders more time to debate priorities in the budget and give residents more transparency into how the city is spending public dollars.

How we got here

The measures are considered one of the first big tests of residents' feelings about the city's sharp turn to the right under the leadership of an ultra-conservative city council majority, elected in 2022. The council's work has since been closely watched an analyzed. A headline earlier this week in the Washington Post put it this way: "How a laid-back beach town because California's MAGA stronghold."

What's next

The Secretary of State is slated to certify the final primary results on April 12.

Tracking your ballot

Use this tool at the Orange County Registrar of Voters to track the status of your ballot, and more.

Further reading

• LAist's Orange County Voter Game Plan Guide: Huntington Beach Ballot Measures
• Huntington Beach election page — official ballot statement, impartial analysis, arguments for and against
• Protect HB, a group opposed to the ballot measures
• Huntington Beach’s New Conservative Council Bans Pride Flag On City Property (LAist)
• The Pride Flag Is Gone. Library Books Are Under Review. It’s A New Era Of Backlash Politics In California (CalMatters/LAist)

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