By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Take Your Power Back With Kim Yeater.

When a handful of citizens draft a county charter amendment that could reshape how Californians vote, the state’s legal machine kicks into high gear.

What Measure B Seeks to Change

Measure B, approved by Shasta County voters on June 2, 2026 with roughly 55‑56 percent support, amends the county charter to require three key reforms: a government‑issued photo ID for every voter, one‑day in‑person elections with hand‑counted ballots observed at the precinct, and local control over voter‑roll maintenance. Proponents argue these steps put “the power back in the people’s hands” and create a transparent, fraud‑resistant process.

“We wanted the whole enchilada,” said Richard Gallardo, a longtime election‑integrity activist and one of the Shasta Five. “We’re gaining national attention because we want to fix every aspect that we can at the local level for what I call a fair and transparent election.”

Legal Battles and State Opposition

Shortly after the vote, the state filed a lawsuit claiming Measure B exceeds Shasta County’s charter authority and is preempted by statewide election law. The California Court of Appeals sent the case to trial court, and in August a Shasta County Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the amendment’s implementation for the November election.

The Board of Supervisors voted not to defend the amendment. The state’s swift legal response mirrors earlier challenges, such as the lawsuit against Huntington Beach’s voter‑ID ordinance.

Local Voices: The Shasta Five

The coalition behind Measure B includes Laura Hobbs, Richard Gallardo, Deirdre Holliday, Carrie Chilson and Jim Burnett. Hobbs, a 2024 supervisor candidate, said her experience observing elections revealed “all the points and weaknesses of how the election was currently being run,” which informed the amendment’s language.

Gallardo warned that California’s reliance on 100 percent mail‑ballot voting, proprietary voting‑machine software and a centralized voter‑roll system creates “the three largest issues that cause our elections to be fraudulent.” He added that separating voter rolls onto an offline computer would prevent the state from back‑filling data from the IRS, DMV and other agencies.

Implications for Election Reform

If upheld, Measure B could serve as a model for other charter counties seeking greater local control over elections. Advocates argue that hand‑counting and on‑the‑spot results would restore confidence, while opponents fear it could disenfranchise voters who lack easy access to photo ID.

The controversy also underscores a broader tension in California: the push for uniform, mail‑based voting versus localized efforts to tighten security. As the litigation proceeds, Shasta County’s experiment will be watched by both election‑reform activists and state officials alike.

Regardless of the legal outcome, the Shasta Five’s campaign illustrates how grassroots organizing can force a conversation about the mechanics of democracy, reminding voters that the rules governing elections are not set in stone.

The full episode of Take Your Power Back With Kim Yeater is available on OBBM Network TV.