Redondo Beach Sues CA Over Election Date Change Law

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Redondo Beach is suing California over a state law that requires local governments to move their election dates to boost voter turnout. Last week, the city filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging SB415, the California Voter Participation Rights Act, according to the Daily Breeze.

The bill was signed into law in Sept. 2015, and requires cities, school boards and special districts that see low voter turnout in local elections to move their races to March or November of even-numbered years, when statewide elections bring more voters to the polls, according to the Daily Breeze.

Cities were given a Jan. 1 deadline to submit road maps outlining how they'll approach syncing their elections by Nov. 2020. The complaint argues that SB415 doesn't apply to charter cities, contrary to Attorney General Xavier Becerra's position, Daily Breeze reported. It seeks to bar the state from enforcing the law in Redondo Beach.

The lawsuit states that SB415 disenfranchises voters in charter cities because it violates the home-rule provisions of the California Constitution, which give charter cities exclusive authorities over municipal affairs, including the timing of elections, according to Daily Breeze.

Almost every South Bay city and school board has moved its elections to follow the law by lengthening or shortening terms over the past two years. However, in Redondo Beach, the contentious City Council couldn't agree on how to solve the issue.

Read more at the Daily Breeze; Image via Shutterstock