Each member of the election board, before entering upon his duties, shall take and subscribe an official oath administered by an officer authorized to administer oaths or by any landowner.
Special ElectionsConducting
Section § 50810
Before starting their work, every election board member must take an official oath. This oath can be administered by a person authorized to do so or by any landowner.
election board member official oath oath administration
Section § 50811
If someone who isn't allowed to vote lies about their voting rights in a special election for deciding on bonds, they will face the same penalties as those who illegally vote in elections.
Any person not legally qualified to vote who makes any false statement in respect to his right to vote in a special election to determine whether bonds or refunding bonds shall be issued shall incur all of the penalties provided in the Elections Code for persons illegally voting at elections.
false statement right to vote special election
Section § 50812
If you recently became the owner of a property in the district after the latest tax records were finalized, you can still vote in a special election about issuing bonds or refunding bonds. To vote, you need to present the original deed or a certified copy of it that is recorded with the county recorder's office where your property is located.
If the ownership of any property in the district is changed after the making of the last equalized tax roll for the county wherein the property is situated, the owner thereof or his legal representative may vote at a special election to determine if bonds or refunding bonds shall be issued upon production of the original deed or of certified copy of the record thereof in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the property is situated.
property ownership change district property voting equalized tax roll
Section § 50813
At special elections, if you wish to vote on behalf of someone else, you must have written authorization to do so. This authorization needs to be formally recognized in the same way as real estate documents and must be submitted to the election board.
No person shall vote by proxy at a special election unless the authority to vote is evidenced by an instrument in writing, acknowledged and certified in the same manner as grants of real property and filed with the election board.
proxy voting special election written authorization
Section § 50814
This section explains that during a special election for bonds, voters will use ballots that indicate 'Bonds—yes' or 'Bonds—no,' or in the case of refinancing, 'Refunding Bonds—yes' or 'Refunding Bonds—no.' Each ballot will also include the voter's name and the number of votes they cast.
The ballots cast at the special election shall contain the words: “Bonds—yes” or the words “Bonds—no,” or “Refunding Bonds—yes,” or “Refunding Bonds—no,” as the case may be, the name of the person casting the ballot, and the number of votes cast by him.
special election ballot wording bond election
Section § 50815
This law requires the election board to create a list of all ballots cast in an election related to bonds or refunding bonds. This list includes each voter's name, how many votes they cast, whether the votes were for or against the bonds, and if someone else is voting on their behalf, the name of that person.
A list of the ballots cast shall be made by the election board containing the name of each voter, the number of votes cast by him, whether they were cast for or against the issuing of the bonds or refunding bonds, and, if the ballot is cast by proxy, the name of the person casting it.
ballots election board voter list
Section § 50816
When the polls close after an election, the election board has several tasks to complete. First, they need to count the votes and announce the results right away. Then, they must send a certificate showing the results and the number of votes for and against the bond issues to the county elections official. A copy of this certificate also needs to be given to the board overseeing the election. Lastly, all ballots and related election documents need to be delivered to the county elections official.
At the close of the polls the election board shall:
(a)CA Water Code § 50816(a) Immediately canvass the votes and declare the result.
(b)CA Water Code § 50816(b) Forward a certificate showing the result and the number of votes cast for and against the issuing of bonds or refunding bonds to the county elections official.
(c)CA Water Code § 50816(c) Deliver a copy of the certificate to the board.
(d)CA Water Code § 50816(d) Deliver all ballots cast and all documents and papers used at the election to the county elections official.
canvass votes declare result certificate of election results
Section § 50817
If someone wants to challenge the results of a special election, they have 20 days after the election's certificate is filed to start a lawsuit in the superior court of the main county. If no one challenges the result within this time, the decision made by the election board is considered final.
Any interested person may contest a special election within 20 days after the filing of the certificate with the county elections official by bringing suit in the superior court of the principal county. Unless contested, the declaration of the result by the election board is final and conclusive.
special election contest election results challenge election
