Huntington Beach, California, Measure B, Require Public Operation of City Libraries Measure (June 2025)

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

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

A "yes" vote supports requiring the public operation of city libraries, thereby prohibiting the city from contracting with a private entity to operate city libraries unless there is a fiscal emergency or it is authorized by a majority vote of the city council and local electorate.

A "no" vote opposes requiring the public operation of city libraries, thereby prohibiting the city from contracting with a private entity to operate city libraries unless there is a fiscal emergency or it is authorized by a majority vote of the city council and local electorate.

A simple majority vote was required to approve the measure.

Election results

Huntington Beach Measure B
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		36,044	60.52%
No		23,512	39.48%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Measure B was as follows:

“

Shall the Ordinance to Amend the Huntington Beach Municipal Code by Adding New Section 2.30.100, Entitled “Public Operation of Library Services” be adopted? [ ] Yes [ ] No

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

The proposed Huntington Beach Municipal Code amendment adds a new Section 2.30.100 to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code entitled “Public Operation of Library Services.” This ballot measure if adopted, would impose restrictions on the operation and management of public libraries in Huntington Beach, including the Huntington Beach Public Library. If enacted, this measure would restrict the City’s ability to enter into agreements related to the library services and may restrict the City’s options for addressing fiscal challenges related to the library system. This measure allows the City to sell, lease, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of any libraries owned and operated by the City and allows operation or management by a private contractor in a fiscal emergency under Article XIIIC, Section 2(b) of the California Constitution or a majority vote of the City Council and by a majority of voters at a general or special election. A “Yes” vote is a vote in favor of imposing restrictions on the management of the City’s library services. A “No” vote is a vote against these restrictions and would allow the City more flexibility in managing library services in the event of potential future fiscal challenges. 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 B. 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 School District Trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin
• Coast Community College District Trustee Lorraine Prinsky
• Ocean View School District President Patricia Singer

Official arguments

The following are official arguments filed with the city by Ocean View Schoold District President Patricia Singer; Rev. Bob Ewing; Huntington Beach Attorney Paula A. Schaefer; Jacqueline Zand bergen-Brod, local businesswoman; and Friends of the Huntington Beach Public Library President Martha Elliot in support of Measure B:

“

Now, local politicians want to mislead us into thinking that library privatization will solve the City's financial deficit, which they created, and then use our tax dollars to provide economic subsidies to their corporate donors. It’s wrong and unethical, and we will not be fooled. Your YES vote ensures that residents, not politicians, have the final say on keeping our libraries public by requiring any proposed privatization to be approved by the voters. Your YES vote ensures students’ continued access to education, job training, and career opportunities at our public libraries. Your YES vote enhances our local economy, the well-being of our children, and the safety of our community. Local politicians’ efforts to privatize our public libraries begs the question: what next City institution will they sell to for-profit corporations? City Hall? Our beaches and parks? Our police and fire departments? Voting YES sends a strong message to politicians and for-profit corporations: our public libraries are NOT for sale.

”

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:

“

The Council is elected by the residents of Huntington Beach to make these financial decisions that are in the best interest of the community. By taking this budgetary discretion away from the City Council, the ability to prevent a budget crisis by saving money on library functions will be eliminated. By voting NO on this measure, the people of the City of Huntington Beach will preserve the City Council ability to protect our City budget and preserve the City Council decision making authority to manage our libraries as necessary. Protect the Fiscal Health of the City: Vote “NO” to stop the power grab of the City’s finances by special interest groups.

”

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