The board shall fix a date when an election shall be held to authorize the bonded indebtedness described in the resolution adopted pursuant to Section 31391.
BondsElection
Section § 31405
This law states that the board is responsible for setting a date for an election. This election will decide whether to approve the bonded debt outlined in a previous plan under Section 31391.
board responsibility election date bonded indebtedness
Section § 31406
This law states that when an election is to be held by the board, it must follow the same process as general water district elections, unless this chapter specifies a different procedure. Essentially, it means they must stick to normal election rules unless told otherwise in this chapter.
The board shall provide for holding the election on the day fixed therefor in the same manner as provided by law in respect to general water district elections so far as applicable, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
board election process general water district elections election procedure
Section § 31407
This law section outlines the requirements for notifying the public about an election related to approving a bonded debt. The notice must include the election resolution, details about voting precincts, polling locations, and the names of election officers.
The board shall give notice of the election to authorize the bonded indebtedness, which notice shall contain all of the following:
(a)CA Water Code § 31407(a) The resolution adopted pursuant to Section 31391 calling the election.
(b)CA Water Code § 31407(b) The boundaries of voting precincts, which shall include only the portion of the district specified in the resolution.
(c)CA Water Code § 31407(c) The location of polling places.
(d)CA Water Code § 31407(d) The names of the officers selected to conduct the election in each precinct, who shall consist of one judge, one inspector, and two clerks.
bonded indebtedness election notice voting precincts
Section § 31408
Only voters who live within the specific voting precinct are allowed to vote in the election for that precinct.
Every voter residing within the voting precincts, but no others, may vote at the election.
voter residency voting precinct election voting eligibility
Section § 31408.5
This law states that in the Pleasant Valley County Water District, only landowners are allowed to vote in elections. This is because many landowners live in nearby towns like Oxnard and Ventura, and not necessarily on the land itself. The law recognizes that these landowners would be responsible for financial decisions, such as bond issues, rather than the residents who live on the land but do not own it.
In the Pleasant Valley County Water District, every owner of land within the district, but no others, may vote at the election.
The special provisions of this section are necessary because in the Pleasant Valley County Water District much of the land is owned by persons living in the nearby communities of Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, and other nearby towns and many of the persons residing on the land are not the owners of the land and the owners may wish to undertake financing through a bond issue. The owners of the land within the district are the ones primarily concerned with the district and the ones who will bear the cost of financing and not the resident nonowners.
Pleasant Valley County Water District landowner voting rights election eligibility
Section § 31409
When there's a notice that needs to be shared, it must be published for two consecutive weeks in at least one newspaper chosen by the board. This newspaper should be printed and published within the district.
The notice shall be published for two weeks in at least one newspaper, designated by the board, printed and published in the district.
notice publication newspaper requirement two-week notice
Section § 31410
If there's no local newspaper in the area that's getting some kind of benefit, then important notices have to be posted in three public spots. This applies to either the whole district or just a part of it that's seeing improvements.
If there is no newspaper printed and published in the district, the notice shall be posted in three public places in whichever of the following is to be benefited:
(a)CA Water Code § 31410(a) The district.
(b)CA Water Code § 31410(b) An improvement district therein.
public notice posting requirements no newspaper
Section § 31411
This law states that after an election, the election results must be submitted to the board, and the board is responsible for counting the votes on the first Monday that is at least six days after the election date.
The returns of the election shall be made to and the votes canvassed by the board on the first Monday which is six or more days after the election.
election results submission vote counting board responsibility
Section § 31412
This law section states that the results of an election related to water districts should be determined and announced according to the general rules for water district elections, except when this chapter specifies otherwise.
The results of the election shall be ascertained and declared pursuant to the general water district election laws so far as they may be applicable, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
water district elections election results ascertained election
Section § 31413
Once the results are announced, the secretary must record the outcome in the board's official records.
As soon as the result is declared, the secretary shall enter in the records of the board a statement of the result.
result declaration secretary duties record keeping
Section § 31414
This law section means that any minor mistakes or informalities during the process of an election won't make the election invalid, as long as the election was conducted fairly overall.
No informalities in the conduct of the election shall invalidate the election if fairly conducted.
election errors election conduct election validity
Section § 31415
This law states that the district is responsible for paying all the costs of holding an election, but these costs can be rolled into the debt they plan to incur. The district can also be reimbursed for these election costs from the money they raise by selling bonds.
All the expenses of holding the election shall be borne by the district, but said expenses may be included in the amount of the debt to be incurred, as provided in Section 31392, and the district may be reimbursed for bond election expenditures from the proceeds of the sale of bonds.
election expenses district responsibility debt inclusion
Section § 31416
This law states that if voters in a water district that has no debt, isn't running a water system, and hasn't seriously planned to build one, reject bond issues in three separate elections (with the last one being in 1948 or after), then no more bond elections can happen until voters decide whether to dissolve the district.
Whenever the electors of a district which has no bonded indebtedness, is not operating a water system, and has not bona fide contracted for the construction of an adequate water system for the district, have refused to authorize the issuance of bonds at three elections, the last of which was held in 1948 or thereafter, no further bond elections shall be held until the question of dissolution has been submitted to the electors as provided in Section 32858 of this division.
water district voters bonded indebtedness water system construction
