citation: ELEC § 11108

text:
(a) When the Secretary of State has received from one or more county elections officials a petition certified to have been signed by a sufficient number of registered voters to initiate a recall election, the Secretary of State shall, within 10 days, notify each county elections official of that fact.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, any voter who has signed a recall petition under this chapter shall have the voter’s signature withdrawn from the petition upon the voter filing a written request that includes the voter’s name, residence address, and signature with the elections official within 30 business days of the Secretary of State’s notice provided by subdivision (a).

(c) No later than 10 business days after the withdrawal period provided by subdivision (b), the elections officials shall report to the Secretary of State the total number of signatures that have been withdrawn pursuant to subdivision (b). The Secretary of State shall promptly make a second preliminary determination of whether the petitions have been signed by the sufficient number of registered voters to initiate a recall election. If the petitions have not been signed by a sufficient number of registered voters, the Secretary of State shall notify the county elections officials to continue to verify signatures pursuant to Section 11104. The Secretary of State and elections officials shall continue to make the notifications and reports required by this section until such time as the Secretary of State determines that there is a sufficient number of verified signatures, not including withdrawn signatures, to initiate a recall election.

(d) Upon receipt of the notification from the Secretary of State required in subdivision (c) that there is a sufficient number of verified signatures, not including withdrawn signatures, to initiate a recall election, the Department of Finance shall, in consultation with the affected elections officials and the Secretary of State, estimate the costs of the recall election, including expenses for verifying signatures, printing ballots and voter information guides, and operating polling places. The Department shall estimate the costs that would be incurred if (1) the recall election is held as a special election and (2) the recall election is consolidated with the next regularly scheduled election pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 15 of Article II of the California Constitution. Within 30 business days of receipt of the Secretary of State’s notice of sufficient signatures to initiate a recall required by subdivision (c), the Department of Finance shall submit the estimate to the Governor, the Secretary of State, and the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of State shall not certify the sufficiency of the signatures under Section 11109 until the Department of Finance has submitted the estimate required by subdivision (d) and either of the following has occurred:

(1) The Joint Legislative Budget Committee has had 30 days to review and comment on the estimate submitted by the Department of Finance pursuant to subdivision (d).

(2) The Legislature has appropriated funds that it determines are reasonably necessary to conduct the recall election and has designated funds for that purpose in the Budget Act or in another statute.

(f) The Secretary of State shall publish a copy of the estimate submitted by the Department of Finance on the Secretary of State’s public internet website no later than 21 business days after the day that the Secretary of State certifies the sufficiency of the signatures under Section 11109.

(g) After the Secretary of State has certified the sufficiency of the signatures under Section 11109, the Director of Finance, or the director’s designee, shall direct the Controller to remit to the elections official from those funds designated for that purpose in any budget act or other statute an amount that takes into consideration the amount of funds available for the purpose, the number of elections officials expected to conduct state recall elections held in that fiscal year, the Department of Finance’s estimates of the costs of each elections official to conduct each state recall election, and the amount reasonably necessary to conduct such recall election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 34, Sec. 3. (SB 152) Effective June 28, 2021.)


kind: section

code: ELEC

citation: ELEC § 11109

text: When the Secretary of State determines that the proponents have collected sufficient signatures, he or she shall certify that fact to the Governor.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 714, Sec. 19. Effective January 1, 1997.)

division: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 2. Recall of State Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall


citation: ELEC § 11110

text: Upon receiving certification of the sufficiency of the recall petitions from the Secretary of State, the Governor shall make or cause to be made publication of notice for the holding of the election. Officers charged by law with duties concerning elections shall make all arrangements for the election. The election shall be conducted, returned, and the results declared, in all respects as are other state elections.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 714, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 1997.)

chapter: 2. Recall of State Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall


citation: ELEC § 11200

text: This chapter shall apply to the recall of local officers.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 3. Recall of Local Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11201

text: When the city or county elections official is the officer sought to be recalled, the duties imposed upon him or her shall be performed by some other person designated by the governing board.

chapter: 3. Recall of Local Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11220

text:
(a) A recall petition shall be submitted to the elections official for filing in his or her office during normal office hours as posted within the following number of days after the clerk or, in the case of a recall of a state officer, the Secretary of State, notifies the proponents that the form and wording of the petition meets the requirements of Article 3 (commencing with Section 11040) of Chapter 1:

(1) Forty days if the electoral jurisdiction has less than 1,000 registered voters.

(2) Sixty days if the electoral jurisdiction has less than 5,000 registered voters but at least 1,000.

(3) Ninety days if the electoral jurisdiction has less than 10,000 registered voters but at least 5,000.

(4) One hundred twenty days if the electoral jurisdiction has less than 50,000 registered voters but at least 10,000.

(5) One hundred sixty days if the electoral jurisdiction has 50,000 registered voters or more.

(b) For purposes of this section, the number of registered voters shall be that which was reported at the last report of registration by the county elections official to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2187 and prior to a finding of the elections official or Secretary of State that no alterations are required in the form of the recall petition pursuant to Section 11042.

article: 2. Recall Petitions

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 3. Recall of Local Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall > 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11221

text:
The number of qualified signatures required in order to qualify a recall for the ballot shall be as follows:

(a) In the case of an officer of a city, county, school district, community college district, county board of education, or resident voting district, but not including a judge of a superior court, the number of signatures shall be equal in number to not less than the following percent of the registered voters in the electoral jurisdiction:

(1) Thirty percent if the registration is less than 1,000.

(2) Twenty-five percent if the registration is less than 10,000 but at least 1,000.

(3) Twenty percent if the registration is less than 50,000 but at least 10,000.

(4) Fifteen percent if the registration is less than 100,000 but at least 50,000.

(5) Ten percent if the registration is 100,000 or above.

(b) For purposes of this section, the number of registered voters shall be calculated as of the time of the last report of registration by the county elections official to the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 2187, and prior to the finding by the elections official or Secretary of State that no alterations are required in the form of the recall petition pursuant to Section 11042.

(c) (1) In the case of a state officer, including a judge of a court of appeal, and in the case of a judge of a superior court, the number of signatures shall be as provided for in subdivision (b) of Section 14 of Article II of the California Constitution. In the case of a judge of a superior court, which office has never appeared on the ballot since its creation, or did not appear on the ballot at its last election pursuant to Section 8203, the number of signatures shall be as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 14 of Article II of the California Constitution, except that the percentage shall be based on the number of votes cast within the judicial jurisdiction for the countywide office which had the least number of votes in the most recent general election in the county in which the judge holds office.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “countywide office” means an elective office wholly within the county which is voted on throughout the county.

(d) In the case of a landowner voting district, signatures of voters owning at least 10 percent of the assessed value of land within the electoral jurisdiction of the officer sought to be recalled.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 304, Sec. 8. (AB 1513) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11222

text:
(a) The petition shall be filed by the proponents, or by any person or persons authorized, in writing, by a proponent. All sections of the petition shall be filed at the same time.

(b) When the petition is presented for filing, the elections official shall determine the total number of signatures affixed to the petition. If, from this examination, the elections official determines that the number of signatures, prima facie, equals or is in excess of the minimum number of signatures required, the elections official shall accept the petition for filing. The petition shall be deemed as filed on that date. A section of the petition not so filed is void for all purposes. If, from the elections official’s examination, the elections official determines that the number of signatures, prima facie, does not equal or exceed the minimum number of signatures required, the official shall not take further action.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 58, Sec. 12. (AB 3259) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11223

text: If the petition was circulated in more than one county, the elections official of each county shall affix, with the certificate showing the results of his or her examination, the number of registered voters of the county residing within the electoral jurisdiction of the officer sought to be recalled.

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11224

text:
(a) Except as provided in Section 11225, within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall examine the petition, and from the records of registration, ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters. If the elections official’s examination shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient. If the number of valid signatures is less than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(b) In determining the number of valid signatures, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(c) The elections official shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(d) If the petition is found sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing board at its next regular meeting.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 81. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11225

text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), within 60 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if, from the examination of petitions pursuant to Section 11222, more than 500 signatures have been signed on the petition, the elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in a manner so that every signature filed with the elections official shall have an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the elections official shall complete the verification of signatures within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, if the elections official determines that the time reasonably needed to complete the 60-day verification process described in subdivision (a) and any other procedures required for qualifying the measure for the ballot could cause the recall election to be ineligible for consolidation with the next regularly scheduled election, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 11242.

(c) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than 110 percent of the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient.

(d) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 90 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the elections official shall examine and verify each signature filed. If the elections official’s examination of each signature shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient. If the number of valid signatures is less than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(e) If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is less than 90 percent of the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient.

(f) In determining from the records of registration the number of valid signatures signed on the petition, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law.

(g) The elections official shall attach to the petition, a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition.

(h) If the petition is found insufficient, no action shall be taken on the petition. However, the failure to secure sufficient signatures does not preclude the filing later of an entirely new petition to the same effect.

(i) If the petition is found to be sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing body at its next regular meeting.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 870, Sec. 6. (SB 386) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11226

text: If the certificate shows that the petition is insufficient, no action shall be taken on it, but the petition shall remain on file.

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11227

text:
If the elections official finds the signatures on the petition to be sufficient, he or she shall submit his or her certificate as to the sufficiency of the petition to the governing body at its next regular meeting. The certificate shall contain:

(a) The name of the officer whose recall is sought.

(b) The title of his or her office.

(c) The number of signatures required by law.

(d) The total number of signatures on the petition.

(e) The number of valid signatures on the petition.

(f) The number of signatures which were disqualified.

article: 2. Recall Petitions


citation: ELEC § 11240

text: Within 14 days after the meeting at which the governing body received the certificate of sufficiency as specified in Section 11227, the governing body shall issue an order stating that an election shall be held pursuant to this article to determine whether or not the officer named in the petition shall be recalled.

article: 3. The Recall Election

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 3. Recall of Local Officers: Intermediate Steps in the Recall > 3. The Recall Election


citation: ELEC § 11241

text: If the governing board fails to issue the order within the time specified in Section 11240, the county elections official, within five days, shall set the date for holding the election. If the recall is to be voted on by voters in more than one county, the elections official of the county with the largest number of registered voters who will be voting in the election shall set the date for holding the election in consultation with the elections officials of the other counties.

article: 3. The Recall Election


citation: ELEC § 11242

text:
(a) The election shall be held not less than 88, nor more than 125, days after the issuance of the order.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the election may be conducted within 180 days after the issuance of the order so that the election may be consolidated with a regularly scheduled election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 791, Sec. 6. (AB 2584) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 3. The Recall Election


citation: ELEC § 11300

text: No insufficiency in a petition against any officer shall bar the later filing of a new petition against that officer.

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 4. General Procedures: Final Steps in the Recall > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11301

text: If a petition is found insufficient by the elections official or, in the case of the recall of a state officer, the Secretary of State, the petition signatures may be examined in accordance with Section Article 2 (commencing with Section 7924.100) of Chapter 2 of Part 5 of Division 10 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 97. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)

chapter: 4. General Procedures: Final Steps in the Recall

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11302

text:
(a) Except as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), if a vacancy occurs in an office after a recall petition is filed against the vacating officer, the recall election shall nevertheless proceed.

(b) (1) Upon the occurrence of the vacancy, the elections official for each county in which a section of the recall petition has been filed shall immediately verify the signatures on the petition submitted to the elections official as of the date of the vacancy.

(2) If the elections official verifies that a sufficient number of signatures were filed as of the date of the vacancy, the recall election shall proceed.

(3) If the elections official verifies that an insufficient number of signatures, or no signatures, were filed as of the date of the vacancy, the recall election shall not proceed and a vacancy in the office that is the subject of the recall election shall be filled as otherwise provided by law.

(4) A person who was subject to a recall petition may not be appointed to fill the vacancy in the office that he or she vacated and that person may not be appointed to fill any other vacancy in office on the same governing board for the duration of the term of office of the seat that he or she vacated.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 591, Sec. 3. (AB 1311) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11303

text: A voter who has signed a recall petition shall have their signature withdrawn from the petition upon filing a written request that includes the name or title of the petition and the voter’s name, residence address, and signature with the elections official prior to the day the petition section bearing the voter’s signature is filed. A written request made under this section shall not constitute a petition or paper for purposes of Section 104.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 166, Sec. 4. (AB 2967) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 11320

text:
The following shall appear on the ballots at every recall election, except in the case of a landowner voting district, with respect to each officer sought to be recalled:

(a) The question “Shall [name of officer sought to be recalled] be recalled (removed) from the office of [title of office]?”

(b) Next to the foregoing question, the words “Yes” and “No” on separate lines with a voting target next to each.

(c) If the officer sought to be recalled holds a voter-nominated office, the officer may elect to have the officer’s party preference identified on the ballot. The officer shall inform the Secretary of State whether the officer elects to have a party preference identified on the ballot by the deadline for the officer to file an answer with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 11023. The Secretary of State shall disseminate this information to all appropriate county elections officials. The statement of party preference shall appear immediately to the right of and on the same line as the officer’s name, or immediately below the officer’s name if there is not sufficient space to the right of the officer’s name, and shall appear in substantially the following form:

(1) If the officer stated a political party preference on the officer’s affidavit of registration, the statement shall read: “Party Preference:____” (inserting the name of the qualified political party stated on the affidavit of registration.) The listed political party preference shall be the political party preference stated on the officer’s affidavit of registration at the time the notice of intention is filed with the elections official pursuant to Section 11021.

(2) If the officer did not state a political party preference on the officer’s affidavit of registration, the statement shall read: “Party Preference: None.”

(3) If the officer elects not to have the officer’s political party preference identified on the ballot, or if the officer fails to inform the Secretary of State whether the officer elects to have a party preference identified on the ballot by the deadline for the officer to file an answer with the Secretary of State, the statement of party preference shall not appear on the ballot.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 10. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Ballots

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 4. General Procedures: Final Steps in the Recall > 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11322

text:
In addition to the material contained in Section 11320, the following shall appear on ballots at all recall elections for state officers:

(a) The names of the candidates nominated to succeed the officer sought to be recalled shall appear under each recall question.

(b) Following each list of candidates, the ballot shall provide one blank line with a voting target next to it.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 11. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Ballots


text:
(a) (1) In a recall election for a state officer, additional instructions shall be added to the ballot to communicate the following information:

(A) That there are two contests on the ballot.

(B) That the two contests are separate and can be voted on independently.

(2) For purposes of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), the following instructions are recommended:

“You can vote for the recall question regardless of whether you vote for a replacement candidate.

You can vote for a replacement candidate regardless of whether or how you vote on the recall question.”

(b) The exact wording of the instructions shall be written by the elections official to conform to the actions required by the layout of the ballot.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 12. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11323

text: A voter shall indicate, by completely selecting the voting target next to either “Yes” or “No,” their vote for or against the recall proposal, respectively.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 13. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11324

text:
(a) The official responsible for preparing the ballot shall, at least 10 days before the recall election, mail a voter information guide to each registered voter of the electoral jurisdiction of the officer sought to be recalled.

(b) In the case of a recall of a state officer, the official responsible for preparing the voter information guide pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include in the voter information guide the report of estimated costs of the recall prepared by the Department of Finance pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11108.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 180, Sec. 13. (SB 117) Effective August 24, 2017.)

article: 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11325

text:
(a) With the voter information guide there shall be mailed, for each officer whose recall is sought, a printed copy of the following:

(1) The statement of reasons for recall that appeared on the notice of intent to recall that was filed by the proponents of the recall with the elections official or, in the case of a state officer, with the Secretary of State.

(2) The answer to the statement of reasons for recall that was filed by the officer whose recall is sought with the elections official or, in the case of a state officer, with the Secretary of State, if an answer was filed.

(b) The printed copies of the statement and the answer to that statement shall be mailed with the voter information guide either in a document separate from the voter information guide or as part of the voter information guide. Both the statement and answer shall be printed on the same page, or on facing pages of the document, and shall be of equal prominence.

(c) If the recall of more than one officer is sought, the statement and answer for each officer shall be printed together and shall be clearly distinguished from those of any other officer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 269, Sec. 4. (AB 3258) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11327

text: An officer whose recall is being sought may file a statement with the elections official in accordance with Section 13307, to be sent to each voter, together with the voter information guide.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 59. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 2. Ballots


citation: ELEC § 11328

text: A recall election shall be conducted, canvassed, and the results declared in substantially the manner provided by law for a regular election for the office.

article: 3. Elections in General

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 4. General Procedures: Final Steps in the Recall > 3. Elections in General


citation: ELEC § 11329

text: One election is sufficient for the recall of several officers.

article: 3. Elections in General


citation: ELEC § 11381

text:
Nominations of candidates to succeed the recalled officer shall be made in the manner prescribed for nominating a candidate to that office in a regular election insofar as that procedure is consistent with this article. The following exceptions shall be made to that procedure:

(a) For recalls of state officers, the nomination papers and the declaration of candidacy shall, in each case, be filed no less than 59 days prior to the date of the election and not before the day the order of the election is issued. The Secretary of State shall certify the names of the candidates to be placed on the ballot by the 55th day prior to the election.

(b) No person whose recall is being sought may be a candidate to succeed himself or herself at a recall election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 790, Sec. 3. (AB 2582) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 4. Recall Elections

path: 11. RECALL ELECTIONS > 4. General Procedures: Final Steps in the Recall > 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 11382

text: There shall not be an election for a successor in a recall of a local officer pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 11200). If a majority of the votes on a recall proposal for a local officer are “Yes”, the officer is removed and the office shall be vacant until it is filled according to law, provided that the officer who was the subject of the recall election shall not be appointed to fill the vacancy in that office.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 251, Sec. 1. (AB 94) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 11383

text: If one-half or more of the votes at a recall election are “No”, the officer sought to be recalled shall continue in office.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

article: 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 11384

text: Except as provided in Section 11382, if a majority of the votes on a recall proposal are “Yes”, the officer sought to be recalled shall be removed from office upon the qualification of the officer’s successor.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 790, Sec. 5. (AB 2582) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 11385

text: If a state officer is recalled at a recall election, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office shall be declared elected for the unexpired term of the recalled officer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 251, Sec. 2. (AB 94) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 11386

text: If the candidate who received the highest number of votes in a recall election for a state officer fails to qualify within 10 days after receiving the certificate of election, the office to which the candidate was elected shall become vacant and shall be filled according to law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 790, Sec. 7. (AB 2582) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 4. Recall Elections


citation: ELEC § 12000

text: For each statewide election, the Governor shall issue a proclamation calling the election. The proclamation shall be issued by the Governor under his or her hand and the Great Seal of the state no later than the 148th day prior to the election and shall state the time of the election and the offices, if any, to be filled. Copies of the proclamation shall be transmitted by the Governor to the boards of supervisors of the counties.

division: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES

chapter: 1. Proclamations And Election Orders

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 1. Proclamations And Election Orders


citation: ELEC § 12001

text: For a special local election, the governing body of the local agency shall issue a proclamation or a resolution calling the election.


citation: ELEC § 12101

text:
(a) Not earlier than the 127th nor later than the 113th day before any municipal election to fill offices, the city elections official shall publish a notice of the election in the city pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code. The notice shall be headed “Notice of Election,” and shall contain a statement of:

(1) The time of the election.

(2) The offices to be filled, specifying full term or short term, as the case may be.

(b) With respect to a special election to fill a vacancy in office, unless the city has enacted an ordinance as referred to in subdivision (d) of Section 10229, and the ordinance does not allow for appointment to fill the vacancy and requires the vacancy to be filled in the special election, the notice shall also state that if no one or only one person is nominated for an elected office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Section 10229.

If there is no newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the city, the notice shall be typewritten and copies shall be posted conspicuously within the time prescribed in at least three public places in the city.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1997.)

chapter: 2. Preelection Notices

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 2. Preelection Notices


citation: ELEC § 12102

text:
The notice of the municipal election shall be substantially in the following form:

Notice is hereby given that a ____ (general or special) municipal election will be held in the ____ of ____ on ____, the ____ day of ____, 20__, for the following officers: (name them).

The polls will be open between the hours of __ m. and __ m.City Elections OfficialDated, _______, ___.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 58, Sec. 13. (AB 3259) Effective January 1, 2019.)


citation: ELEC § 12103

text:
At least 158 days before the direct primary, the Secretary of State shall prepare and transmit to each county elections official a notice designating all the offices, except those of county officers and judges, for which candidates are to be nominated.

At least 125 days before the direct primary election, the Secretary of State shall prepare and transmit to each county elections official a notice designating the political parties qualified to participate in the primary.


citation: ELEC § 12104

text:
(a) A notice designating the offices for which candidates are to be nominated shall be in substantially the following form:NOTICE BY SECRETARY OF STATE OF OFFICES FOR WHICH CANDIDATES ARE TO BE NOMINATED AT THE DIRECT PRIMARY

Secretary of State

Sacramento,__. 20 __.To the County Elections Official of the County of ____:

Notice is hereby given that the offices for which candidates are to be nominated at the primary election to be held on the ____ day of___, 20__, together with the names of the political parties qualified to participate in the election, are as follows:STATE AND DISTRICT OFFICESCONGRESSIONAL OFFICESLEGISLATIVE OFFICES Notice is also hereby given that at the primary election, candi– dates are to be nominated for the following office: SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONNotice is also hereby given that at the primary election, in the county first above mentioned, candidates are to be nominated for any county offices or judicial offices to which candidates are to be elected at the ensuing general election;

And notice is also hereby given that at the primary election there shall be elected in each county a county central committee for each political party above named pursuant to Division 7 (commencing with Section 7000) of the Elections Code.(seal)Secretary of State(b) The notice designating the political parties qualified to participate in this election for nomination of candidates shall be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE BY SECRETARY OF STATE OF POLITICAL PARTIES QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DIRECT PRIMARY ELECTION

Secretary of State

Sacramento, __. 20__.To the County Elections Official of the County of ____:

Notice is hereby given that the political parties qualified to participate in this election for nomination of candidates to partisan offices are as follows: (seal)Secretary of State

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 58, Sec. 14. (AB 3259) Effective January 1, 2019.)


citation: ELEC § 12105

text:
(a) The elections official shall, not less than one week before the election, publish the list of the polling places designated for each election precinct.

(b) Publication shall be pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in the jurisdiction where the election is to be held and in any newspaper of general circulation designated by the elections official. If there is no newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the jurisdiction, the list shall be typewritten and copies shall be posted conspicuously within the time prescribed in at least three public places within the city.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 201, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.)


text:
(a) Not less than one week before the election, the elections official shall post a list of all current polling places in each precinct and a list of political party preference of precinct board members appointed by the 15th day before the election. This list shall not include the names of the precinct board members. Not later than 28 days after the election, the elections official shall post an updated list of the political party preferences of precinct board members who actually served on election day. The election official shall post these lists in their office and on their official website, if any.

(b) In each jurisdiction in which the election official determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity requires the local posting of polling places, the elections official shall divide and distribute the lists for posting in any city clerk’s office within the jurisdiction having the election.

(c) Each list required by this section shall remain posted for 30 days after completion of the canvass, shall then be archived by the elections official, and shall remain available for public inspection as long as election materials are required to be retained. Copies shall be made available upon request for a price not to exceed the cost of reproduction and mailing.

(d) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 554, Sec. 3. (SB 1131) Effective September 26, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 12106

text:
(a) The elections official shall publish, as provided in this section and Section 12105, the list of polling places designated for each election precinct in each jurisdiction where the elections official determines that the public interest, convenience, and necessity require the local publication of the list to afford adequate notice of this subject to the electorate.

(b) After making a determination pursuant to subdivision (a), the elections official shall divide and distribute the list of polling places and cause the same to be published at least one week before the election in newspapers of general circulation published in different places in the jurisdiction.

(c) Divisions of the list of polling places may be published in that daily newspaper of general circulation published or circulated in one or more cities in the county, with the exception of the county seat, that is determined will give to the electorate in each city adequate notice of the election. If there is no daily newspaper, publication may be made in a semiweekly newspaper, a biweekly newspaper, or a weekly newspaper of general circulation that is determined will give the electorate in the city adequate notice of the election.

(d) The list of polling places designated for various portions of the unincorporated area of the county and of the county seat may be published in those daily, semiweekly, biweekly, or weekly newspapers of general circulation published or circulated within the various portions of the unincorporated area and the county seat, deemed by the county elections official to be those newspapers that will give adequate notice of the election to the voters of the respective portions of the unincorporated area and the county seat.

(e) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 29. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: ELEC § 12107

text:
(a) The elections official shall let the contracts for publication, pursuant to Section 12106, of the list of polling places designated for each election precinct, and shall determine the rate to be paid for the publication of the list or any portion of the list.

(b) The publication rate shall be based on a common denominator of measurement for all newspapers and may be graduated according to circulation.

Contracts for the publication shall include the publication of the proper portion of the list of polling places and all other items relating to that portion required by law to be published.

(c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 30. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: ELEC § 12108

text:
(a) The elections official shall ascertain the name of the political party, if any, for which each precinct board member has expressed a preference, as shown in the affidavit of registration of that person. The elections official shall post a list of the board member’s party preference or an abbreviation of the name of each precinct board member. The list required under this section shall not include the names of the precinct board members. If a precinct board member has not expressed a preference for a political party, the word “None” shall be printed in place of the party name.

(b) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 554, Sec. 4. (SB 1131) Effective September 26, 2022.)


citation: ELEC § 12109

text:
Whenever the ballots at any election or from any precincts are to be tallied at a central place and not at the precincts, the elections official or secretary of the jurisdiction conducting the election shall specify the public place to be used and give notice thereof as follows:

(a) By at least one publication in a newspaper of general circulation published in the jurisdiction where the election is to be held, provided that the publication is made at least 10 days before the day of the election.

(b) If a newspaper of general circulation is not published in that jurisdiction, then by prominently posting the notice in the office of the elections official for at least 10 days before the day of the election.


citation: ELEC § 12110

text:
In case of a municipal election to fill offices, the city elections official shall not later than one week before the election publish a list of the names of the nominees, in the order in which they appear on the ballot, and the respective offices for which they have been nominated. Publication shall be in the city in a newspaper of general circulation. If there is no newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the city, the notice shall be typewritten and copies shall be posted conspicuously within the time prescribed in at least three public places in the city. This list shall be headed, “Nominees for Public Office,” in conspicuous type, and shall be substantially in the following form:

NOMINEES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

Notice is hereby given that the following persons have been nominated for the offices mentioned below to be filled at the general municipal election to be held in the ____ of ____on ____ the ____ day of ____, 20__.

(Here follow with the list of nominees.)

Dated, ____City Elections Official

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 344, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.)


citation: ELEC § 12111

text:
(a) In case of a municipal election on any measure, the city elections official shall publish a synopsis of the measure at least one time not later than one week before the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. If there is no newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the city, the notice shall be typewritten and copies shall be posted conspicuously within the time prescribed in at least three public places in the city.

The notice shall be headed “Measure To Be Voted On” in conspicuous type and shall be substantially in the following form:

MEASURE TO BE VOTED ON

Notice is hereby given that the following measure is to be voted on at the ____ (general or special) municipal election to be held in the City of ____, on Tuesday, the ____ day of ____, 2___.

(Synopsis of measure or measures)

Dated ____City Elections OfficialCity of ______________(b) The city elections official shall consolidate the notice of election and the notice of measure to be voted on into one notice if the measure was placed on the ballot before the notice of election is published pursuant to Section 12101.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 785, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2005.)


citation: ELEC § 12112

text:
(a) At least 90 days, and not more than 120 days, before the day fixed for the general district election, the elections official of the principal county shall publish a notice of the election once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the district or, if no such newspaper is published in the district, in a newspaper having general circulation in the district published in any affected county in the district. The notice shall contain the date of the general district election, name the offices for which candidates may file, and state the qualifications required by the principal act for each office. The notice shall state the location where official declarations of candidacy for eligible candidates desiring to file for any of the elective offices may be obtained, the office in which completed declarations of candidacy are required to be filed, and the date and time after which no declarations of candidacy may be accepted for filing. The notice shall state that appointment to each elective office will be made as prescribed by Section 10515 in the event there are no nominees or an insufficient number of nominees for the office and a petition for an election is not filed with the elections official within the time period prescribed by Section 10515.

(b) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (a), the county elections official shall, by a general press release, set forth both of the following:

(1) The elective offices of the district to be filled at the ensuing district election.

(2) A telephone number that voters of the district may utilize in order to obtain information regarding filing for the elective district office.


citation: ELEC § 12113

text: For each school or special district, the county elections official immediately shall deliver a copy of all published notices to the district secretary. Each notice shall be posted in the district office.


citation: ELEC § 12200

text: This chapter applies to all jurisdictions.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1997.)

chapter: 3. Precincts

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 3. Precincts > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12220

text: The elections official shall divide the jurisdiction into precincts and prepare detail maps or exterior descriptions thereof, or both, and as many copies as the elections official may determine. The county surveyor, if requested by an elections official, shall provide assistance to the elections official in the preparation of these maps or exterior descriptions.

history: (History: Repealed and added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 2. Precinct Formation

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 3. Precincts > 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12221

text: In any order establishing precincts, their boundaries shall be defined by reference to exterior descriptions or delineation thereof on a map or maps.

article: 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12222

text:
(a) No precinct shall be established so that its boundary crosses the boundary of any supervisorial district, congressional district, senatorial district, Assembly district, board of equalization district, judicial district, incorporated city, ward, or city council district.

(b) If, at any election, any precinct contains an insufficient number of qualified persons to make up a precinct board, the precinct may be consolidated with an adjoining precinct.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 504, Sec. 1. (AB 2692) Effective January 1, 2013.)

article: 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12223

text:
(a) Whenever a jurisdiction is divided into election precincts or whenever the boundary of an established precinct is changed or a new precinct is created, the precinct boundary shall be fixed in a manner so that the number of voters in the precinct does not exceed 1,000 on the 88th day prior to the day of election, unless otherwise provided by law.

(b) An elections official may subtract the number of permanent vote by mail voters, pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 3200) of Division 3, from the total number of voters for purposes of complying with subdivision (a) if after subtracting the number of permanent vote by mail voters, the number of voters in the precinct does not exceed the percentage of nonpermanent vote by mail voters in the jurisdiction on the 88th day prior to the election multiplied by 1,000, unless otherwise provided by law.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 111, Sec. 1. (SB 1342) Effective January 1, 2011. Section operative January 1, 2005, by its own provisions.)

article: 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12224

text:
(a) At the discretion of the elections official, the voters of the precinct may be divided into two or more groups, as nearly equal as possible, and one precinct board appointed to serve each group. When the voters of a precinct are so divided, there may be one or more polling places and a ballot box for and a set of returns from each group.

(b) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 32. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12225

text: Whenever a precinct is entirely owned or controlled by the United States, and no permission is granted by the federal authorities for the establishment of precinct boards and polling places, precinct boards need not be appointed nor polling places designated, but in lieu thereof the elections official shall, not less than 88 days prior to election day, establish the precinct as a mail ballot precinct and conduct the election for that precinct in accordance with Section 3005.

article: 2. Precinct Formation


citation: ELEC § 12241

text:
(a) The elections official conducting local, special, or consolidated elections, or statewide elections other than the direct primary, presidential primary, or general election, for the purpose of the election, may divide the territory within which the election is to be held into special election or consolidated election precincts by consolidating existing precincts, or otherwise, subject to Section 12222, and may change and alter the precincts for those elections as often as occasion requires. Not more than six existing precincts may be consolidated into one special election or consolidated election precinct. The polling place used for a consolidated precinct shall be located within the boundaries of the consolidated precinct.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2005.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 4) and added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 904, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2002. Section operative January 1, 2005, by its own provisions.)

article: 3. Precinct Consolidations

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 3. Precincts > 3. Precinct Consolidations


citation: ELEC § 12260

text:
(a) The elections official may change or alter any precinct boundaries.

(b) If any changes or alterations are made the elections official shall prepare new detail maps or exterior descriptions thereof, or both. The county surveyor shall, if so requested, provide assistance to the elections official in the preparation of the detail maps or exterior descriptions.

(c) The elections official shall provide, at the request of any interested person, the following information:

(1) All precinct boundary changes and alterations made within the current calendar year and the immediately preceding two calendar years.

(2) All precinct consolidations made within the current calendar year and the immediately preceding two calendar years, specifying the election or elections in which the consolidations were made.

(d) The information provided to persons pursuant to subdivision (c) shall include the precinct numbers before the change or alteration and then a description, including precinct numbers, of the changes or alterations. The description may include maps.

(e) The information described in subdivisions (c) and (d) shall be compiled for each calendar year and shall be kept and filed so as to be accessible to any person upon request.

(f) The elections official may charge a person requesting information the amount needed to reimburse the jurisdiction for the actual expenses incurred in providing copies of the information required under this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 4. Precinct Boundary Changes

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 3. Precincts > 4. Precinct Boundary Changes


citation: ELEC § 12261

text:
(a) The boundaries of precincts for the general election shall be the same as those established for the direct primary election, except to the extent necessary to add or subtract precincts as the result of population change or to divide precincts containing more than 1,000 voters or to change precinct boundaries due to jurisdictional boundary changes, or consolidations of elections. Changes of precinct boundaries may also be made when consolidating precincts.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2005.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 6) and added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 904, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2002. Section operative January 1, 2005, by its own provisions.)

article: 4. Precinct Boundary Changes


citation: ELEC § 12262

text: Jurisdictional boundary changes occurring less than 125 days before an election shall not be effective for purposes of that election. Voters residing within an area affected by a boundary change, occurring within 125 days before an election, shall vote at the ensuing election in all respects as if a boundary change had not occurred.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 118, Sec. 3. (AB 1730) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 4. Precinct Boundary Changes


citation: ELEC § 12263

text: The registrar of voters in each county shall make available, upon request by any member of the public, a map in digital form provided free of charge that shows the effective boundaries of each precinct within the county.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 80, Sec. 1. (AB 17) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 4. Precinct Boundary Changes


citation: ELEC § 12280

text: When designating polling places, the elections official shall undertake necessary measures in the locating of polling places to ensure that polling places meet the guidelines promulgated by the Secretary of State for accessibility by the physically handicapped.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 5. Polling Places

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 3. Precincts > 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12281

text:
(a) If, for any valid reason, the polling place designated for any precinct cannot be used, and this fact is known in sufficient time to allow a mailed notice to be received before the election, the elections official may designate another polling place and shall mail, to each voter in the precinct a notice showing this change.

(b) If the information is not known in sufficient time for a mailing pursuant to subdivision (a), either the elections official or, in the case of an emergency, the precinct board on the day of election, shall designate another polling place as near the place first designated as possible, post notice on or near the place first designated, and conduct the election at the new location.

(c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 33. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12282

text: Property exempted from taxation pursuant to Section 214 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall be made available free of charge to the elections official for use as a polling place pursuant to Section 213.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12283

text:
(a) For purposes of this section, “public building” means a building owned or controlled by any of the following:

(1) A local governmental agency, including a city or county.

(2) The University of California.

(3) The California State University.

(4) A community college district.

(b) (1) The governing body having jurisdiction over school buildings or other public buildings may authorize the use of its buildings for polling places, or for vote centers, as described in Section 4005, beginning up to 10 days before the election and continuing through election day, and it may also authorize the use of its buildings, without cost, for the storage of voting machines and other vote-tabulating devices.

(2) If a city or county elections official specifically requests the use of a school building or public building for polling places, or vote centers beginning up to 10 days before the election and continuing through election day, as well as during key dates necessary for drop-off, set-up, and pick-up of election materials, as determined by the elections official, the governing body having jurisdiction over the particular school building or public building shall allow its use for the purpose requested, except that the University of California is encouraged, but not required, to comply with a request made pursuant to this paragraph.

(3) When allowing use of a school building for polling places or vote centers, the governing body may, but is not required to, do any of the following:

(A) Continue school in session, if the governing body identifies to the elections official making the request the specific areas of the school buildings not occupied by school activities that will be allowed for use as polling places or vote centers.

(B) Designate the day for staff training and development.

(C) Close the school to students and certificated employees.

(c) (1) An elections official requesting the use of a school building pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include in the official’s request a list of the schools from which the use of a building for polling places or vote centers is needed. Requests must be made within sufficient time in advance of the school year for the governing body to determine, on a school-by-school or districtwide basis, whether to keep the affected schools in session, designate the schoolday for staff training and development, or close the school to students and nonclassified employees before school calendars are printed and distributed to parents.

(2) An elections official requesting the use of a public building pursuant to subdivision (b) shall include in the official’s request a list of the buildings from which the use of a building for polling places or vote centers is needed. Requests shall be made sufficiently before election day for the governing body of the city, county, or other local governmental agency to adequately plan for the public building’s use as a polling place or vote center.

(d) (1) Once a governing body has approved the use of a school building or public building as a polling place or vote center, the governing body shall instruct the school district or other public administrator to provide the elections official a site with an adequate amount of space for voting operations and storage of associated supplies that will allow the precinct board or vote center to perform its duties in a manner that will not impede, interfere, or interrupt the normal process of voting and to make internet access available for use by local elections officials, if requested.

(2) Beginning 10 days before the election and continuing through election day, if requested by the elections official, the district administrator shall make building parking available at no charge to the precinct or vote center board and voters. If requested by the elections official, the district administrator shall also make accessible parking spaces and parking for assisting voters curbside available.

(e) A public building, including, but not limited to, a building operated by a school district, that is used as a polling place or vote center shall comply with applicable accessibility requirements described in this article, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 20901 et seq.), and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 253, Sec. 1. (AB 287) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12284

text: Upon request of the elections official, state-owned buildings, parking lots, and other facilities shall be made available free of charge for use as polling places and vote centers, except that the Department of General Services may exclude from use as polling places or vote centers state facilities at which access to confidential materials cannot be reasonably safeguarded, which are inaccessible to the public, the use of which would disrupt state business, or which are otherwise impractical for use as polling places.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 343, Sec. 2. (AB 2540) Effective January 1, 2019.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12285

text: A mobilehome may be used as a polling place if the elections official determines that no other facilities are available for the convenient exercise of voting rights by mobilehome park residents and the mobilehome is designated as a polling place by the elections official pursuant to Section 12286. No rental agreement shall prohibit the use of a mobilehome for those purposes.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1081, Sec. 20. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12286

text:
(a) At least 29 days prior to the election, the elections official shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish a convenient number of election precincts within the affected jurisdiction.

(2) Define the precinct boundaries.

(3) Designate a polling place for each precinct.

(4) Appoint for each precinct a precinct board pursuant to Sections 12302 to 12304, inclusive.

(5) Notify the members of each precinct board of their appointment and the location of the precinct and polling place where they will serve.

(b) The elections official, in establishing precincts and defining their boundaries, shall, to the extent practicable, provide for a single polling place where a voter entitled to vote in more than one district may cast all of his or her ballots.

(c) In a landowner voting district, the county elections official shall designate the polling place at which a nonresident landowner shall vote.

(d) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 35. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12287

text: A candidate’s residence shall not be designated as a polling place for an election at which that candidate’s name will appear on the ballot.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 29, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2001.)

article: 5. Polling Places


text: A single-family residence shall not be designated as a polling place if elections officials determine that it has the registered address of a person who is required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act. Elections officials shall, not more than 60 days prior to designating a single-family residence as a polling place, use the Megan’s Law Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice to determine if the residence has the registered address of a sex offender. In accordance with subdivision (k) of Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, an elections official who is required to register as a sex offender shall be prohibited from accessing the Megan’s Law public Internet Web site.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 137, Sec. 1. (AB 193) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12288

text: A polling place shall not be accessible by a door, window, or other opening to any place where any alcoholic beverage is sold or dispensed while the polls are open.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 155, Sec. 1. (AB 2037) Effective January 1, 2023.)

article: 5. Polling Places


citation: ELEC § 12300

text: Any voter, or any individual who possesses the qualifications set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 12302, may file an application with the elections official for the position of precinct board member. The elections official may require the application be made on specific forms supplied by the elections official.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 162, Sec. 1. (AB 817) Effective January 1, 2014.)

chapter: 4. Precinct Boards

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 12. PREELECTION PROCEDURES > 4. Precinct Boards > 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12301

text: The persons appointed to serve as election officers for each precinct at any election shall constitute the precinct board for that precinct.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12302

text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), a member of a precinct board shall be a voter of the state. The member may serve only in the precinct for which his or her appointment is received.

(b) (1) In order to provide for a greater awareness of the elections process, the rights and responsibilities of voters, and the importance of participating in the electoral process, as well as to provide additional members of precinct boards, an elections official may appoint not more than five pupils per precinct to serve under the direct supervision of precinct board members designated by the elections official. A pupil may be appointed, notwithstanding his or her lack of eligibility to vote, subject to the approval of the governing board of the educational institution in which the pupil is enrolled, if the pupil possesses the following qualifications:

(A) Is at least 16 years of age at the time of the election for which he or she is serving as a member of a precinct board.

(B) Is a United States citizen, will be a citizen at the time of the election for which he or she is serving as a member of a precinct board, or is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, as defined in Section 101(a)(20) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(20)).

(C) Is a pupil in good standing attending a public or private secondary educational institution.

(D) Is a pupil who has a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

(2) A pupil appointed pursuant to this subdivision may not be used by a precinct board to tally votes.

(c) (1) In order to promote civic engagement among residents of the state and to provide additional members of precinct boards, an elections official may appoint not more than five nonvoters per precinct to serve as precinct board members. A nonvoter may be appointed, notwithstanding his or her lack of eligibility to vote, if the nonvoter possesses the following qualifications:

(A) Is lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, as defined in Section 101(a)(20) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101(a)(20)).

(B) Is otherwise eligible to register to vote pursuant to Section 2101 except for his or her lack of United States citizenship.

(2) A nonvoter appointed to a precinct board pursuant to this subdivision shall not be permitted to do either of the following:

(A) Serve as, or perform any of the duties of, the inspector of a precinct board.

(B) Tally votes for the precinct board.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 150, Sec. 1. (AB 554) Effective January 1, 2016.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12303

text:
(a) A person who cannot read or write the English language is not eligible to act as a member of any precinct board.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote. Therefore, appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to non-English-speaking citizens voting without assistance.

(c) (1) Where the elections official finds that citizens described in subdivision (b) approximate 3 percent or more of the voting-age residents of a precinct, or if interested citizens or organizations provided information that the elections official believes indicates a need for voting assistance for qualified citizens described in subdivision (b), the elections official shall make reasonable efforts to recruit elections officials who are fluent in a language used by citizens described in subdivision (b) and in English. This recruitment shall be conducted through the cooperation of interested citizens and organizations and through voluntarily donated public service notices in the media, including newspapers, radio, television, and the internet, particularly those media that serve the non-English-speaking citizens described in subdivision (b).

(2) (A) Within 150 days following each statewide general election, the county elections official shall report to the Secretary of State the number of individuals recruited to serve as members of precinct boards, including the number of individuals recruited who are fluent in each language required to be represented under Section 14201 and Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 et seq.). The Secretary of State shall issue uniform standard reporting guidelines.

(B) The Secretary of State shall post all county reports received under subparagraph (A) on the Secretary of State’s internet website within 180 days following each statewide general election.

(3) At each polling place, a member of the precinct board shall identify the languages spoken by the member, other than English, by wearing a name tag, button, sticker, lanyard, or other mechanism, as determined by the county elections official. The text indicating the language skills of the member of the precinct board shall be in the non-English language or languages spoken by that member.

(d) At least 14 days before an election, the elections official shall prepare and make available to the public a list of the precincts to which officials were appointed pursuant to this section, including on the county elections official’s internet website, and the language or languages other than English in which they will provide assistance.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 55. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12304

text:
(a) The composition of the precinct board shall be determined by the elections official based on election precinct size. The precinct board shall consist of a minimum of one inspector and two clerks. Additional clerk positions may be allocated in proportion to the number of registered voters within the precinct.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2005.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 8) and added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 904, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2002. Section operative January 1, 2005, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12306

text: The county elections official of any county, in appointing members of the several precinct boards to serve in the direct primary and general elections under the provisions of this code, shall permit the county central committee of each qualified political party to nominate for appointment to the precinct board a member of that party who is registered and resident in that precinct. Nomination pursuant to this section shall be made in writing to the county elections official not less than 90 days before the election for which the nomination is made. In making appointments to precinct boards from nominations submitted by political parties, the county elections official shall give preference to the nominee of any qualified political party with at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the precinct for which the nomination is made.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12307

text: Upon filing the list of names and addresses of those who have been appointed members of the precinct board, the elections official shall immediately mail or deliver to each voter so appointed, a notice stating the appointment and the position to which assigned, the penalty for failure to serve, and any other matter that the elections official determines.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12309

text:
(a) Following the appointment of members of precinct boards, the elections official shall instruct inspectors so appointed concerning their duties in connection with the conduct of the election, which instruction shall conform to the uniform standards adopted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 12309.5.

(b) A person may not serve as an inspector of a precinct board at an election unless instruction has been received in accordance with this section except that, in the case of the emergency disability of a regular inspector, substitute inspectors shall be given any instruction found necessary by the elections official.

(c) At the request of the elections official, the legislative body may contract with any qualified person or organization for purposes of instructing inspectors in accordance with this section.

(d) This section shall become operative on June 30, 2005.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 3) and added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 530, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2004. Section operative June 30, 2005, by its own provisions.)

article: 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) No later than June 30, 2005, the Secretary of State shall adopt uniform standards for the training of precinct board members, based upon the recommendations of the task force appointed pursuant to subdivision (b). The uniform standards shall, at a minimum, address the following:

(1) The rights of voters, including, but not limited to, language access rights for linguistic minorities, the disabled, and protected classes as referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.).

(2) Election challenge procedures such as challenging precinct administrator misconduct, fraud, bribery, or discriminatory voting procedures as referenced and defined in the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.).

(3) Operation of a jurisdiction’s voting system, including, but not limited to, modernized voting systems, touch-screen voting, and proper tabulation procedures.

(4) Poll hours and procedures concerning the opening and closing of polling locations on election day. Procedures shall be developed that, notwithstanding long lines or delays at a polling location, ensure all eligible voters who arrive at the polling location before closing time are allowed to cast a ballot.

(5) Relevant election laws and any other subjects that will assist an inspector in carrying out his or her duties.

(6) Cultural competency, including, but not limited to, having adequate knowledge of diverse cultures, including languages, that may be encountered by a poll worker during the course of an election, and the appropriate skills to work with the electorate.

(7) Knowledge regarding issues confronting voters who have disabilities, including, but not limited to, access barriers and the need for reasonable accommodations.

(8) Procedures involved with provisional, fail-safe provisional, vote by mail, and provisional vote by mail voting.

(b) The Secretary of State shall appoint a task force of at least 12 members who have experience in the administration of elections and other relevant backgrounds to study and recommend uniform guidelines for the training of precinct board members. The task force shall consist of the chief elections officer of the two largest counties, the two smallest counties, and two county elections officers selected by the Secretary of State, or their designees. The Secretary of State shall appoint at least six other members who have elections expertise, or their designees, including members of community-based organizations that may include citizens familiar with different ethnic, cultural, and disabled populations to ensure that the task force is representative of the state’s diverse electorate. The task force shall make its recommendations available for public review and comment before the submission of the recommendations to the Secretary of State and the Legislature.

(c) The task force shall file its recommendations with the Secretary of State and the Legislature no later than January 1, 2005.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 119. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12310

text: Each member of a precinct board shall receive compensation from the governing body of the jurisdiction. This sum shall be paid out of the treasury of the jurisdiction in which the election is held. The inspector may receive more compensation than the other members of the precinct board. The additional compensation to the inspector is for services rendered in securing precinct board members and other duties which may be directed by the elections official.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 36. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12311

text: No public agency shall be required as the result of any assignment or transfer to pay the stipend of an election officer for services to any person other than the election officer to whom the stipend is due.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12312

text: A person shall not be suspended or discharged from any service or employment because of absence while serving as an election officer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 37. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12313

text:
(a) If any member of a precinct board does not appear at the opening of the polls on the morning of an election, those voters present, including members of the board, shall appoint a voter to fill the vacancy. If none of the members appointed appears at that time, the voters of the precinct present at that time may appoint a board.

(b) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 38. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12314

text: The inspector may appoint a voter to replace any precinct board member who ceases to act or becomes incapacitated during the progress of an election.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 24. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12315

text: If the inspector ceases to act, a majority of the remaining members of the precinct board may appoint a substitute.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12316

text: In constituting precinct boards, the elections official may excuse persons appointed whom the elections official is satisfied ought to be excused. Substitutions may be made when any person appointed is excused or found disqualified or incompetent, until a final or amended list of election officers is sent to the inspector for that precinct.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12318

text:
(a) Following the notification of the precinct board members appointed pursuant to Section 12307, the county elections official shall mail or deliver to the county central committee of each qualified political party a copy of the list, and the elections official may notify the same committee of any substitute appointments that are made until the time the notice of final order is sent to the precinct inspector. This list shall have the names of precinct board members in precinct order.

(b) In addition, the elections official shall make available a copy of the list prescribed in subdivision (a) to any person requesting a copy. Any person requesting a copy of the list shall sign a roster specifying his or her name, telephone number, and address, and shall provide the elections official with adequate personal identification.

(c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 39. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12319

text: The elections official shall immediately mail or deliver to each person appointed as inspector a notice showing the precinct polling place and the voters appointed to serve as election officers in that precinct.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 26. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12320

text: No person is eligible to act as an election officer until the declaration required by Section 12321 has been signed.

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12321

text:
(a) (1) Each inspector shall sign a declaration of intention to faithfully discharge the duties of inspector and shall return it to the elections official at least 15 days before election day or the first day of service at a vote center. If the inspector fails or refuses to sign and file the declaration, the elections official shall appoint a substitute who shall make and file the application.

(2) The declaration of an inspector and each of the declarations of other members of the precinct board provided for in this article shall be signed in the presence of a witness and shall be as binding on the signer as would be an oath of office.

(3) The declaration of an inspector shall be in substantially the following form:State of CaliforniaCounty of ⎱ ⎰ss.I do hereby solemnly declare that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will to the best of my ability, faithfully discharge the duties of inspector for polling place or vote center ______ for the election to be held on ______, 20__. .Signed in the presence of (Signature) on ______, 20__.(b) Before entering upon the performance of duties, each of the precinct board members, other than the inspector, shall sign a declaration of intention to faithfully discharge the duties of an election officer. The declaration shall be signed before any member of the precinct board. The form for each of the declarations shall be provided in the roster for the polling place. The declaration of the precinct board member shall be in substantially the following form:State of CaliforniaCounty of ⎱ ⎰ss.I do hereby solemnly declare that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California, and that I will to the best of my ability, faithfully discharge the duties of precinct board member for polling place or vote center______ for the election to be held on ______, 20__. .Signed in the presence of (Signature) on ______, 20__.(c) Any precinct board member may administer and certify oaths required to be administered during the progress of an election. This authorization shall include the power to give any type of oath required of a public employee. There shall be no fee or charge for administering an oath.

(d) In lieu of signing and returning the declaration of the inspector, as provided in this chapter, the county elections official may require the inspector to sign the declaration for an election and before entering upon the performance of these duties.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 40. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 12327

text:
(a) If the precinct board members for any precinct have not been appointed or cannot serve, or the polling place has not been designated prior to an election, the county elections official shall, by written order, immediately appoint the precinct board members or designate the polling place for the precinct, as the case may require, and shall notify each precinct board member of the appointment.

(b) If, at this time, the elections official cannot make suitable arrangements for a polling place in any precinct in which none has been designated, the elections official may designate a polling place in any contiguous precinct. Any precinct board member serving in this polling place shall be regarded as serving in the proper precinct within the meaning of this chapter.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 725, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 1997.)

article: 1. General Provisions


citation: ELEC § 13000

text: The person in charge of elections for any county, city and county, city, or district shall provide ballots for any elections within his or her jurisdiction, and shall cause to be printed on them the name of every candidate whose name has been certified to or filed with the proper officer pursuant to law and who, therefore, is entitled to a place on the appropriate ballot.

chapter: 1. Purchasing Procedures

path: 13. BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS > 1. Purchasing Procedures


citation: ELEC § 13001

text: All expenses authorized and necessarily incurred in the preparation for, and conduct of, elections as provided in this code shall be paid from the county treasuries, except that when an election is called by the governing body of a city the expenses shall be paid from the treasury of the city. All payments shall be made in the same manner as other county or city expenditures are made. The elections official, in providing the materials required by this division, need not utilize the services of the county or city purchasing agent.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 179, Sec. 74. Effective January 1, 2009.)

division: 13. BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS


citation: ELEC § 13002

text: Ballot paper and ballot cards used by a jurisdiction holding an election pursuant to the laws of California shall be tinted and watermarked or overprinted with a design, to be furnished by the Secretary of State, so that the watermark or overprint is plainly discernible.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 333, Sec. 1. (SB 1404) Effective January 1, 2011.)


citation: ELEC § 13004

text:
(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations governing the manufacture, finishing, quality standards, distribution, and inventory control of ballot cards and ballot on demand systems.

(b) A ballot printer shall not manufacture or finish ballot cards, or manufacture unfinished ballot cards, for use in California elections, or accept or solicit orders for ballot cards or unfinished ballot cards, before certification as a ballot printer by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may impose conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.

(c) For commercial ballot manufacturers and finishers, the Secretary of State shall require a biennial inspection of the certified manufacturing, finishing, and storage facilities.

(d) Not later than five working days before the Secretary of State begins the initial inspection, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify or disclose to the Secretary of State in writing any known flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes. Once approved by the Secretary of State, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify the Secretary of State and the affected local elections officials in writing within 24 hours after it discovers any flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes.

(e) For purposes of this section, “ballot printer” means any company or jurisdiction that manufactures, finishes, or sells ballot cards, including test ballots, for use in an election conducted pursuant to this code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 605, Sec. 3. (SB 1328) Effective September 25, 2024.)


text:
(a) A jurisdiction shall not purchase, lease, or contract for a ballot on demand system unless the ballot on demand system has been certified by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may impose additional conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.

(b) A vendor, company, or person shall not sell, lease, or contract with a jurisdiction for the use of a ballot on demand system unless the ballot on demand system has been certified by the Secretary of State.

(c) This section does not preclude a jurisdiction from conducting research and development of a ballot on demand system. A ballot on demand system that is used for purposes of this subdivision shall not be used in an election conducted pursuant to this code unless the system has been certified by the Secretary of State.

(d) Once a ballot on demand system is approved by the Secretary of State, the ballot on demand system vendor shall notify the Secretary of State and the affected local elections officials in writing within 24 hours after it discovers any flaw or defect in its ballot on demand system that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes.

(e) The Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations for purposes of certifying ballot on demand systems.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 605, Sec. 4. (SB 1328) Effective September 25, 2024.)


citation: ELEC § 13005

text:
(a) Before a user may purchase ballot cards, the user shall request in writing a release for a specific quantity of these ballot cards from the Secretary of State. If the request is in order, the Secretary of State shall issue a written release for that quantity to the manufacturer, or to the authorized warehouse, and to the user. The format, text, and use of the request and release shall be governed by regulations adopted by the Secretary of State.

(b) Nothing in this section prohibits a verbal request or verbal release, provided that this verbal request or verbal release is immediately confirmed in writing. The regulations shall expressly deny the manufacturing of ballot cards without a specific release.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 333, Sec. 3. (SB 1404) Effective January 1, 2011.)


citation: ELEC § 13006

text: A user, vendor, or manufacturer shall not warehouse for a subsequent election ballot paper or ballot cards furnished or released by the Secretary of State for a specific election without first obtaining authorization in writing from the Secretary of State for the storage. The authorization shall include the particular details of the amount to be stored so that audit controls may be established and maintained. Ballot paper or ballot cards not used in that election, not authorized to be retained for subsequent elections, and not returned to the Secretary of State, shall be destroyed. A certificate of destruction setting forth the date of destruction and the amount of the ballot paper or ballot cards destroyed shall be transmitted to the Secretary of State.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 333, Sec. 4. (SB 1404) Effective January 1, 2011.)


citation: ELEC § 13100

text: All ballots used in all elections shall be governed by this chapter unless otherwise specifically provided.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

chapter: 2. Forms of Ballots: Ballot Order

path: 13. BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS > 2. Forms of Ballots: Ballot Order


citation: ELEC § 13101

text:
(a) In the case of the prevention of an election in any precinct by the loss or destruction of the ballots intended for that precinct, the inspector or other precinct officer for that precinct shall make an affidavit setting forth the fact and transmit it to the Governor. Upon receipt of the affidavit, the Governor may, and upon the application of any candidate for any office to be voted for by the voters of that precinct the Governor shall, order a new election in that precinct.

(b) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 41. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)


citation: ELEC § 13102

text:
(a) All voting shall be by ballot. There shall be provided, at each polling place, at each election at which public officers are to be voted for, but one form of ballot for all candidates for public office, except that, for partisan primary elections, one form of ballot shall be provided for each qualified political party as well as one form of nonpartisan ballot, in accordance with subdivision (b).

(b) At partisan primary elections, each voter not registered disclosing a preference for any one of the political parties participating in the election shall be furnished only a nonpartisan ballot, unless the voter requests a ballot of a political party and that political party, by party rule duly noticed to the Secretary of State, authorizes a person who has declined to disclose a party preference to vote the ballot of that political party. The nonpartisan ballot shall contain only the names of all candidates for nonpartisan offices, voter-nominated offices, and measures to be voted for at the primary election. Each voter registered as preferring a political party participating in the election shall be furnished only a ballot for which the voter disclosed a party preference in accordance with Section 2151 or 2152 and the nonpartisan ballot, both of which shall be printed together as one ballot in the form prescribed by Section 13207.

(c) A political party may adopt a party rule in accordance with subdivision (b) that authorizes a person who has declined to disclose a party preference to vote the ballot of that political party at the next ensuing partisan primary election. The political party shall notify the party chair immediately upon adoption of that party rule. The party chair shall provide written notice of the adoption of that rule to the Secretary of State not later than the 135th day before the partisan primary election at which the vote is authorized.

(d) The county elections official shall maintain a record of which political party’s ballot was requested pursuant to subdivision (b), or whether a nonpartisan ballot was requested, by each person who declined to disclose a party preference. The record shall be made available to any person or committee who is authorized to receive copies of the printed roster for primary and general elections pursuant to Section 2184. A record produced pursuant to this subdivision shall be made available in either a printed or electronic format, as requested by the authorized person or committee.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 106. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)


citation: ELEC § 13103

text:
Every ballot shall contain all of the following:

(a) The title of each office, arranged to conform as nearly as practicable to the plan set forth in this chapter.

(b) The names of all qualified candidates, except that:

(1) Instead of the names of candidates for delegate to the national conventions, there shall be printed the names of the presidential candidates to whom they are pledged or the names of candidates for chairmen of party national convention delegations.

(2) Instead of the names of candidates for presidential electors, there shall be printed in pairs the names of the candidates of the respective parties for President and Vice President of the United States. These names shall appear under the title “President and Vice President.”

(c) The titles and summaries of measures submitted to vote of the voters.


citation: ELEC § 13104

text:
(a) If a candidate changes their name within one year of any election, the new name shall not appear upon the ballot unless the change was made by either of the following:

(1) Marriage.

(2) Decree of any court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) This section does not apply to candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 72, Sec. 2. (SB 437) Effective January 1, 2024.)