Part 3CONSOLIDATION OF ELECTIONS
Section § 10400
This law states that if multiple elections, such as legislative, district, city, or county elections, are scheduled for the same day and location, they can be combined into one election. This applies even if the elections are governed by different laws or called by different officials, as long as the relevant governing bodies agree to consolidate them.
Section § 10401
If there's a statewide election and another election happening at the same time, the county's board of supervisors can decide to combine them into one.
Section § 10402
This law states that when local elections are set to be combined with others but no specific process is detailed for how to do it, then the procedure in Section 10403 should be followed. However, the leadership of the area that gets the request to combine elections, or an authorized official, can decide to carry out the combination.
Section § 10402.5
If there's an election on a statewide election date in California, it should be combined with the statewide election. However, in larger counties, the board of supervisors can refuse to combine it if they believe the voting system can't handle it due to limitations like ballot style or computer capacity. The usual rules for these elections apply as if this rule is written into those election laws.
Section § 10403
This law explains how local elections in California, like those held by districts or cities, can be combined with statewide elections. To do this, the local authority must pass a resolution at least 88 days before the election, asking for the election to be combined with the statewide one.
They must specify exactly what will be on the ballot, and follow specific rules on how questions or propositions are written. This resolution needs to acknowledge that the consolidated election will follow certain procedures outlined in another law. They must also submit the names of candidates for local offices to the county elections office no later than 81 days before the election.
Section § 10403.5
This law outlines how a city's general municipal elections can be consolidated with other elections, given certain conditions. A city's election date can be set to align with specific dates if approved by the county board of supervisors, who must first review a report on cost-effectiveness. Cities can join forces to buy election equipment, which will be county-owned, to conduct these elections. Any changes in election timing won't adjust office terms by more than 12 months. If an election coincides with a statewide election, current city officials stay in office until results are confirmed. Additionally, cities must notify voters about any date changes promptly, including how this affects elected officials' terms.
Section § 10404
This law applies to special districts in California that choose to elect members of their governing bodies during odd-numbered years. It allows these districts to shift their elections to coincide with statewide general elections through a resolution. This resolution must be consistent with the dates and procedures of the general election and submitted to the county's board of supervisors at least 240 days before the scheduled election.
The board of supervisors will notify all affected districts and request their feedback before making a decision, which must be made within 60 days. A consolidation is approved unless logistical issues prevent it. If approved, all registered voters within the district will be notified by mail, and if the district spans multiple counties, all must agree to the consolidation.
Additionally, officials need to assess cost-effectiveness when considering this change. If successful, members continuing their terms are allowed to stay in office until successors are elected, or until December 31 of the following year. Once changed, at least one election must occur before potential amendments or repeals can be made.
Section § 10404.5
This law outlines how school districts or county boards in California should handle changing election dates. First, they must adopt a resolution to set a new election day and submit it to the board of supervisors 240 days before the current election. This deadline is strict and cannot be waived. The board of supervisors then informs all affected parties and asks for their input on the potential consolidation.
Upon receiving the resolution, the board has 60 days to approve it unless there are technical impediments like voting equipment limitations. If approved, the decision is publicly announced, and voters are notified within 30 days, at the district's expense. The new election date must be at least one month but not more than 12 months after the originally scheduled date. Finally, if the election date is changed, the terms of current board members are extended to match the new election schedule.
Section § 10404.7
This law allows school districts in Tehama County or the Tehama County Board of Education to buy or help buy election equipment, such as computers, when organizing a combined election. The purchased equipment will be owned by Tehama County.
Section § 10405
This law allows the election officials of Los Angeles County and Orange County to work together on elections for school board members of districts that are located in both counties. They can share responsibilities such as conducting the election and counting votes, as long as they agree to do so. This cooperation is possible when these elections are merged with other larger elections like primary, municipal, or general elections.
Section § 10405.7
This law outlines the process for a community college district in California to change the date of its governing board elections. The district must pass a resolution and submit it to the local board of supervisors at least 240 days before the currently scheduled election. The supervisors have 60 days to approve or deny it based on logistical feasibility, like voting equipment capacity. If approved, registered voters must be notified by mail within 30 days, with costs covered by the district.
The new election day can be set between one and 12 months after the original date, aligning it with statewide general elections if needed. In cases where board members' terms expire before this election, their terms are extended until successors are elected and qualified.
Section § 10405.8
This law allows community college districts with trustee areas, as described in the Education Code, to hold elections for trustees on the same day as the statewide general election. This can be done with approval from any county that entirely contains the trustee areas. If other trustee areas are partially or fully located in other counties, their approval is not needed. Changing election dates under this law will still comply with requirements for staggered terms for trustees.
Section § 10406
This law says that if a statewide special election is announced less than 88 days before it happens, local governments like districts and cities can arrange a special local election to be held at the same time. They have four days from when the statewide election is officially announced to do this.
Section § 10407
If an election is combined with a regularly scheduled one, candidates must start filing nomination documents 113 days before the election, with a deadline on the 88th day before the election.
If a current officeholder doesn't file or withdraws their nomination by the 88th day, others have until the 83rd day to submit their documents. This doesn’t apply if no incumbent can run again.
Section § 10408
If the voting areas for a county election overlap or don't match up with the city or district boundaries, the county board of supervisors can adjust the voting areas. They have to do this at least 30 days before the election to make it easier for people to vote.
Section § 10409
This law allows for the combining of elections in areas where the boundaries mostly or completely overlap. If the election boundaries don't match exactly, they can still be combined for precincts that are identical in both elections, or where one precinct is entirely inside another. Separate ballots must be provided for voters who live outside the area of one of the elections.
Section § 10410
This law states that when elections are combined within a certain area, the same voting places, booths, and election officials will be used. However, if different groups are responsible for counting the votes (known as canvassing), they still need to manage their tasks separately, as if the elections weren't combined. There can be exceptions as outlined in other specific parts of the law.
Section § 10411
This law explains what happens when a city or district wants to combine their election with a county election. They can allow the county's board of supervisors to handle the vote counting, or canvassing. If they choose to do this, the election runs as a single event with a single ballot. The city's governing body doesn't have to canvass the election results themselves. The county will handle it according to specific procedures laid out in another part of the law.
Section § 10412
This law section explains that if two or more cities, districts, or political subdivisions want to combine their elections, one governing body can let another handle counting the votes. If they agree to this, the election will be conducted like it's just one election with a single ballot for all voters. The original governing body that authorized someone else to count the votes doesn't need to do their own count. The vote count can be done by any official or group that is legally permitted to do so for the other city or district.
Section § 10413
This law states that when multiple elections are combined, they must be treated as a single election. This means using only one type of ballot for all of them, and the results are counted by the same group.
Section § 10416
When elections are combined or consolidated, the local government in charge can handle a few key tasks for the areas involved. They can appoint the people who run the polling places, decide how the voting areas or precincts are set up, and cover the costs associated with running the election.
Section § 10417
When elections are combined with another election, the details about precincts, polling places, and board members do not have to be separately listed for the combined election. Instead, these details can be stated as being the same as the other election involved in the consolidation. A reference to documents or notices for the other election should be included, specifying how these details can be found. However, if the election is combined with a statewide election, a separate reference isn't required.
Section § 10418
This law allows different elections, like local special elections and scheduled elections, to be combined with a statewide or special election taking place on the same day. When combined, all the election processes—such as setting up voting precincts, printing ballots, and counting votes—must follow the rules of the larger statewide or special election.
Additionally, the voting precincts used will be the same as those for the larger election, and county officials can adjust precinct boundaries if necessary to match the local jurisdiction's boundaries for the combined election.