Title ELEC, California Elec. Code

For each elector position in this state, a political party contesting the position, or an unaffiliated presidential candidate, shall submit to the Secretary of State the names of two qualified individuals. One of the individuals shall be designated “elector nominee” and the other…

(a) Each elector nominee and alternate elector nominee of a political party shall execute the following pledge: “If selected for the position of elector, I agree to serve and to mark my ballots for President and Vice President for the nominees for those offices of the party that …

In submitting this state’s certificate of ascertainment as required by Section 6 of Title 3 of the United States Code, the Governor shall certify this state’s electors and state in the certificate that: (a) The electors will serve as electors unless a vacancy occurs in the office…

(a) The Secretary of State shall preside at the meeting of electors described in Section 6917. (b) The position of an elector not present to vote is vacant. The Secretary of State shall appoint an individual as a substitute elector to fill a vacancy as follows: (1) If the alterna…

(a) At the time designated for elector voting and after all vacant positions have been filled under Section 6916, the Secretary of State shall provide each elector with a presidential and a vice-presidential ballot. The elector shall mark the elector’s presidential and vice-presi…

(a) After the vote of this state’s electors is completed, if the final list of electors differs from any list that the Governor previously included on a certificate of ascertainment prepared and transmitted under Section 5 of Title 3 of the United States Code, the Secretary of St…

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. (Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 216, Sec. 8. (SB 103) Effective January 1, 2023.)

This act shall be known and may be cited as the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 129, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

As used in this chapter: (a) “At-large method of election” means any of the following methods of electing members to the governing body of a political subdivision: (1) One in which the voters of the entire jurisdiction elect the members to the governing body. (2) One in which the…

An at-large method of election may not be imposed or applied in a manner that impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or its ability to influence the outcome of an election, as a result of the dilution or the abridgment of the rights of voters w…

(a) A violation of Section 14027 is established if it is shown that racially polarized voting occurs in elections for members of the governing body of the political subdivision or in elections incorporating other electoral choices by the voters of the political subdivision. Elect…

Upon a finding of a violation of Section 14027 and Section 14028, the court shall implement appropriate remedies, including the imposition of district-based elections, that are tailored to remedy the violation. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 129, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

In any action to enforce Section 14027 and Section 14028, the court shall allow the prevailing plaintiff party, other than the state or political subdivision thereof, a reasonable attorney’s fee consistent with the standards established in Serrano v. Priest (1977) 20 Cal.3d 25, 4…

This chapter is enacted to implement the guarantees of Section 7 of Article I and of Section 2 of Article II of the California Constitution. (Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 129, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Any voter who is a member of a protected class and who resides in a political subdivision where a violation of Sections 14027 and 14028 is alleged may file an action pursuant to those sections in the superior court of the county in which the political subdivision is located. (Add…

The Legislature of the State of California hereby ratifies the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote as set forth in Section 6921. (Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 188, Sec. 1. (AB 459) Effective January 1, 2012.)

The provisions of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote are as follows: Article 1. Membership Any state of the United States and the District of Columbia may become a member of this agreement by enacting this agreement. Article 2. Right of…

This chapter applies only to the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 97, Sec. 1. (SB 280) Effective August 21, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 8166.)

For purposes of this chapter, “statewide direct primary election” means the June 2, 2026, statewide direct primary election. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 97, Sec. 1. (SB 280) Effective August 21, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 8166.)

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 8106, forms for securing signatures on an in-lieu-filing-fee petition shall be made available beginning December 19, 2025. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 8106, the elections official shall reduce the required number o…

Not later than December 19, 2025, the Secretary of State shall determine whether it is feasible to include the number of voters, by party preferences, in each congressional district in the state in the statewide list compiled by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (b) …

Not later than the date that forms for securing signatures on an in-lieu-filing-fee petition are made available in accordance with Section 8162, the Secretary of State shall prepare a calendar of key election dates and deadlines and requirements for the nomination and election of…

(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 13107, a candidate for the office of Representative in Congress shall not choose the word “incumbent” as a designation to appear on the ballot. This subdivision shall not be construed to prevent a candidate from choo…

This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed. (Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 97, Sec. 1. (SB 280) Effective August 21, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, by its own provisions. Note: Repeal affects Chapter 1.5, commencing with Sec…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the California Voter Participation Rights Act. (Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 235, Sec. 1. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2016. Section operative January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 14057.)

As used in this chapter: (a) “Political subdivision” means a geographic area of representation created for the provision of government services, including, but not limited to, a city, a school district, a community college district, or other district organized pursuant to state l…

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a political subdivision shall not hold an election other than on a statewide election date if holding an election on a nonconcurrent date has previously resulted in a significant decrease in voter turnout. (b) A political subdivision may…

Upon a finding of a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 14052, the court shall implement appropriate remedies, including the imposition of concurrent election dates for future elections and the upgrade of voting equipment or systems to do so. In imposing remedies pursuant to …

In an action to enforce subdivision (a) of Section 14052, the court shall allow the prevailing plaintiff other than the state or political subdivision of the state, a reasonable attorney’s fee consistent with the standards established in Serrano v. Priest (1977) 20 Cal.3d 25, 48-…

A voter who resides in a political subdivision where a violation of subdivision (a) of Section 14052 is alleged may file an action pursuant to that section in the superior court of the county in which the political subdivision is located. (Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 235, Sec. 1. (…

This chapter does not apply to special elections. (Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 235, Sec. 1. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2016. Section operative January 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 14057.)

This chapter shall become operative on January 1, 2018. (Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 235, Sec. 1. (SB 415) Effective January 1, 2016. Note: This section postpones, until January 1, 2018, the operation of Chapter 1.7, commencing with Section 14050.)

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is qualified to register to vote and who has a valid California driver’s license or state identification card may submit an affidavit of voter registration electronically on the Secretary of State’s internet website. (2) An affi…

No later than July 1, 2014, the California Health Benefit Exchange shall implement a process and the infrastructure to allow a person who applies online with the California Health Benefit Exchange for service or assistance, or who submits a recertification, renewal, or change of …

Each Internet Web site maintained by the state shall include a hyperlink on the site’s homepage to the online voter registration page of the Internet Web site of the Secretary of State. (Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 277, Sec. 1. (SB 44) Effective January 1, 2014. Section operative S…

This chapter applies to a political body that did not qualify to participate in a presidential primary election pursuant to Section 5100 but nevertheless seeks qualification to participate in the following presidential general election through the nomination of candidates for Pre…

A party is qualified to participate in a presidential general election under any of the following conditions: (a) The party qualified to participate and participated in the presidential primary election preceding the presidential general election pursuant to Section 5100. (b) (1)…

(a) Upon the occurrence of the gubernatorial election, each party shall have its qualifications reviewed by the Secretary of State. A party that does not meet the standards for qualification set forth in Section 5151 shall be prohibited from participating in the presidential gene…

Whenever the registration of any party that qualified in the previous general election falls below one-fifteenth of 1 percent of the total state registration, that party shall not be qualified to participate in a presidential general election but shall be deemed to have been aban…

No party shall be recognized or qualified to participate in a presidential general election that either directly or indirectly carries on, advocates, teaches, justifies, aids, or abets the overthrow by any unlawful means of, or that directly or indirectly carries on, advocates, t…

The Secretary of State shall not certify or conditionally approve a remote accessible vote by mail system, or part of a remote accessible vote by mail system, unless it fulfills the requirements of this code and the regulations of the Secretary of State. (Amended by Stats. 2016, …

(a) A remote accessible vote by mail system, in whole or in part, shall not be used unless it has been certified or conditionally approved by the Secretary of State before the election at which it is to be first used. The Secretary of State may impose additional conditions of app…

(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish standards and regulations governing the use of remote accessible vote by mail systems. (b) Remote accessible vote by mail system standards adopted by the Secretary of State pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, but not be li…

(a) A person, corporation, or public agency owning or having an interest in the sale or acquisition of a remote accessible vote by mail system or a part of a remote accessible vote by mail system may apply to the Secretary of State for certification or conditional approval that i…

The Secretary of State shall use a state-approved testing agency or expert technicians to examine remote accessible vote by mail systems proposed for use or sale in this state. He or she shall furnish a complete report of the findings of the examination and testing to the Governo…

The person, corporation, or public agency applying for certification of a remote accessible vote by mail system is responsible for all costs associated with the testing and examination of the remote accessible vote by mail system. (Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 75, Sec. 13. (AB 225…