Huntington Beach, California, Measure A, Repeal Parent Review Board and Change Library Material Inclusion Policy Measure (June 2025)

Huntington Beach Measure A
Election date June 10, 2025
Topic City governance
Status Approved
Type Initiative

Huntington Beach Measure A was on the ballot as an initiative in Huntington Beach on June 10, 2025. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supports:  repealing the Community Parent Guardian Review Board, which reviews and excludes children's library materials containing sexual content;  transferring the review of children's library materials to the Director of Community and Library Services; and  adopting a broader policy for the selection of library material, including the public's right to access "a range of social, political, aesethetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences."

A "no" vote opposes repealing the Community Parent Guardian Review Board, which is responsible for reviewing and excluding children's library matieral containing sexual content from circulation.

A simple majority vote was required to approve the measure.

Election results

Huntington Beach Measure A
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		34,797	58.38%
No		24,809	41.62%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Measure A was as follows:

“

Shall the Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Deleting Chapter 2.66 Thereof Entitled ‘Community Parent Guardian Review Board for Procurement of Children’s Library Materials’ and Adding Section 2.30.090 Thereto Entitled ‘Selection and Use of Library Materials’ be adopted? [ ] Yes [ ] No

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

The proposed Huntington Beach Municipal Code amendment, if adopted, would eliminate the Community Parent Guardian Review Board (the “Community Board”). Currently, the Community Board is responsible for ensuring that books available to children in City Libraries do not contain sexual content before they are purchased and made available to children, either through circulation or without parental consent. This ballot measure would strike Chapter 2.66 “Community Parent Guardian Review Board Procurement for Children’s Library Materials” entirely and add a new section 2.30.090 “Selection and Use of Library Materials” to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code. The proposed amendment would dissolve the Community Board and transfer the responsibility of reviewing the content of children’s books solely to the Director of Community and Library Services, who would be required to follow the newly established policies outlined in the proposed section 2.30.090. The proposed policies in the Measure give greater discretion to the Director of Community and Library Services in selecting library materials. The proposed amendment emphasizes a broader range of materials and viewpoints, and removes a level of local parental and community involvement in reviewing the library materials made available to children. A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of eliminating the existing Community Parent Guardian Review Board and replacing it with new, broad policies for the selection and use of library materials in the hands of the Director of Community and Library Services. A “No” vote is a vote for maintaining public input and community oversight over children’s library materials. This Measure was placed on the ballot by petition signed by the requisite number of voters. The above statement is an impartial analysis of Measure A. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please call the elections official’s office at (714) 536-5227 and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Our Library Matters led the campaign in support of Measure A and Measure B.

Supporters

Officials

• Ocean View PTA Roundtable President Bobby Lee Guillen

Official arguments

The following are official arguments filed with the city by Ocean View PTA Roundtable President Bobby Lee Guillen; Lindsay Rebecca Seidel Klick, children's librarian; Catherine J. Ryder, retired teacher; Elaine Parker, library volunteer; and Dr. Roshel Graham in support of Measure A:

“

Local politicians’ efforts to ban books are clear government overreach and a waste of our tax dollars at a time when Huntington Beach is already in financial trouble. Don’t let politicians control our library. Vote YES to protect your family’s freedom to read. Vote YES to go back to the library that we all love. Vote YES to keep book-banning out of Huntington Beach.

”

Opposition

Protect Our Children with Councilman Chad Williams led the campaign in opposition to Measure A and Measure B.

Opponents

Officials

• Huntington Beach Mayor Patrick Burns
• Councilmember Gracey Larrea Van Der Mark
• Mayor Pro Tem Casey McKeon
• City Councilman Chad Williams (Nonpartisan)

Official arguments

The following are official arguments filed with the city by Mayor Patrick J. Burns, Mayor Pro Tim Casey McKeon, and Council Woman Gracey Larrea-Van Der Mark in opposition to Measure A:

“

Voting NO on this measure preserves community input and parental control over what our children are exposed to in the libraries. The existing law ensures that the public retain control over book selections, keeping access to quality literature that supports academic growth without exposing children to inappropriate content. The existing law DOES NOT ban books since not a single book has been removed from the Library collection, rather certain books have been relocated to the age-appropriate sections of the Library, just like the Parental Guidance system for motion pictures with an All Access Card available with Parental consent. This is about choice. The community deserves a voice in shaping their children’s education and maintaining the right to instill values that align with their community values, especially in public libraries paid for by the Huntington Beach residents and taxpayers. Vote NO on this measure to protect our children from access to inappropriate books and materials at the libraries.

”

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a successful citizen petition.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Automatic registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases. However, some voters may be asked to show a form of identification when voting if they are voting for the first time after registering to vote by mail and did not provide a driver license number, California identification number, or the last four digits of their social security number. On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2024. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental, agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof, of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; (R) property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

”

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• City governance on the ballot

California

• California 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, California
• Huntington Beach, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas