Section § 12101

Explanation

This law requires city officials to publish a "Notice of Election" between 113 and 127 days before a municipal election to inform the public about the election date and the offices up for election, specifying whether terms are full or short. For special elections filling a vacancy, if the city hasn't passed a specific ordinance, the notice must also say that an appointment might be made if only one or no candidates are nominated. If there are no local newspapers, the notice should be typed and posted in at least three public places.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12101(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)CA Elections Code § 12101(a)(1) The time of the election.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12101(a)(2) The offices to be filled, specifying full term or short term, as the case may be.
(b)CA Elections Code § 12101(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.

Section § 12102

Explanation

This section provides a template for announcing municipal elections. It specifies the need to include whether the election is general or special, and the details such as the city, election date, and names of the officers being elected. Additionally, it states that the notice must indicate the polling hours. The notice ends with a signature area for the City Elections Official and a date.

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 Official
Dated, _______, ___.

Section § 12103

Explanation

This law requires the Secretary of State to send a notice to county election officials at least 158 days before a primary election, listing the offices that candidates will be nominated for, excluding county officers and judges. Additionally, at least 125 days before the primary, the Secretary of State must notify county election officials about which political parties are qualified to participate in the primary.

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.

Section § 12104

Explanation

This law section outlines the format for official notices regarding upcoming primary elections in California. The Secretary of State must inform county election officials about the offices up for nomination, the political parties qualified to participate, and any county-specific or judicial offices relevant for the upcoming general election. Additionally, a notice must be provided for the election of county central committees for each qualified political party. The section includes specific templates for how these notices should be presented.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12104(a) A notice designating the offices for which candidates are to be nominated shall be in substantially the following form:
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 OFFICES
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES
Notice is also hereby given that at the primary election, candi–
dates are to be nominated for the following office:
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Notice 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)CA Elections Code § 12104(b) The notice designating the political parties qualified to participate in this election for nomination of candidates shall be in substantially the following form:
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

Section § 12105

Explanation

This law requires that election officials must publish a list of polling places at least one week before an election. The list must appear in a newspaper of general circulation within the area where the election takes place. If there's no such newspaper, the list must be typed and posted in at least three public places in the city.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12105(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)CA Elections Code § 12105(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.

Section § 12105.5

Explanation

Before every election, officials need to share a list of polling places and the political party affiliations of precinct board members without naming them. This list is posted a week before the election and updated after. It's made available both at the office and online if possible and stays up for 30 days after voting results are finalized. Officials also handle local posting if needed, and lists can be accessed later for a small fee. This rule isn't for elections held at vote centers.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12105.5(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)CA Elections Code § 12105.5(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)CA Elections Code § 12105.5(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)CA Elections Code § 12105.5(d) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

Section § 12106

Explanation

This section outlines the requirements for publishing a list of polling places before an election. If deemed necessary, the elections official must publish the list in newspapers to ensure voters are informed. The list should be divided and distributed to ensure it reaches each city and unincorporated area adequately. Different types of newspapers can be used based on what's available in the area. Importantly, these rules do not apply when elections are conducted using vote centers.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12106(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)CA Elections Code § 12106(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)CA Elections Code § 12106(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)CA Elections Code § 12106(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)CA Elections Code § 12106(e) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

Section § 12107

Explanation

This law states that election officials must arrange contracts to publish information about polling places for each election precinct. They have to decide how much to pay for this publication. The rate they pay should be consistent across all newspapers and can vary based on how widely each newspaper is circulated. It's important for these contracts to include all legally required details related to the polling places. However, this rule does not apply to elections using vote centers.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12107(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)CA Elections Code § 12107(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)CA Elections Code § 12107(c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

Section § 12108

Explanation

This law requires election officials to check and display the political party preference of precinct board members, based on their voter registration. If a board member didn't express a party preference, "None" is to be shown. The display should not include the member's names. This rule does not apply to elections using vote centers.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12108(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)CA Elections Code § 12108(b) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers.

Section § 12109

Explanation

This law states that if the ballots from an election are to be counted at a central location instead of at each voting precinct, the elections official or relevant authority must announce the public place where the tallying will occur. This announcement should be made through at least one newspaper publication within the jurisdiction holding the election, and it must appear no less than 10 days before the election day. If there isn't a local newspaper, the notice must be posted prominently in the office of the elections official for at least 10 days before the election.

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)CA Elections Code § 12109(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)CA Elections Code § 12109(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.

Section § 12110

Explanation

This section requires that for municipal elections in a city, a list of candidates, along with the offices they are running for, must be publicly announced. This announcement has to be made no later than one week before the election. The list should appear in a newspaper that is widely read in the city. If the city doesn't have such a newspaper, the city official must post a typed notice in at least three public places.

The notice should be clearly titled 'Nominees for Public Office' and provide details about the nominees and their respective offices. This ensures transparency and informs the public of the individuals running for office.

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:
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 _____

Section § 12111

Explanation

This law section requires that before a municipal election on a measure, a brief summary, or synopsis, of the measure must be published by the city elections official. This publication must occur at least one week before the election in a newspaper that widely circulates within the city. If no such newspaper exists, the information must be posted in at least three conspicuous public places in the city. The notice must be clearly marked as a 'Measure To Be Voted On' with details about the election date and city.

If the measure is listed on the ballot before the election notice under a different section is published, both notices can be combined into one by the city elections official.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12111(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:
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___.
Dated ____
_____ City Elections Official _____
City of ______________
(b)CA Elections Code § 12111(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.

Section § 12112

Explanation

This law requires that the elections official of the main county publish a notice about the upcoming general district election 90 to 120 days before it occurs. The notice must appear in a widely circulated newspaper within the district. If that's not available, it can be in a newspaper from any affected county. The notice should include the election date, available offices, qualifications for each office, the place to get candidacy paperwork, and the final deadline for filing. If there aren't enough candidates, appointments to positions might be made as specified by another law.

Additionally, there has to be a press release that lists the district's open positions for the election and provides a phone number for voters to get more details about filing for a position.

(a)CA Elections Code § 12112(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)CA Elections Code § 12112(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)CA Elections Code § 12112(b)(1) The elective offices of the district to be filled at the ensuing district election.
(2)CA Elections Code § 12112(b)(2) A telephone number that voters of the district may utilize in order to obtain information regarding filing for the elective district office.

Section § 12113

Explanation

This law requires the county elections official to quickly deliver a copy of all published election notices to the secretary of a school or special district. These notices must then be displayed in the district office for public viewing.

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.