(a) (1) Each candidate for nonpartisan elective office in any local agency, including any city, county, city and county, or district, may prepare a candidateâs statement on an appropriate form provided by the elections official. The statement may include the name, age, and occupation of the candidate and a brief description, of no more than 200 words, of the candidateâs own education and qualifications expressed by the candidate. However, the governing body of the local agency may authorize an increase in the limitations on words for the statement from 200 to 400 words. The statement shall not include the party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations. (2) The statement authorized by this subdivision shall be filed in the office of the elections official when the candidateâs nomination papers are returned for filing, if it is for a primary election, or for an election for offices for which there is no primary. The statement shall be filed in the office of the elections official no later than the 88th day before the election, if it is for an election for which nomination papers are not required to be filed. If a runoff election or general election occurs within 88 days of the primary or first election, the statement shall be filed with the elections official by the third day following the governing bodyâs declaration of the results from the primary or first election. (3) Except as provided in Section 13309, the statement may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the period for filing nomination papers and until 5 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period. (b) (1) The elections official shall send to each voter a county voter information guide that contains the written statements of each candidate that is prepared pursuant to subdivision (a). The statement of each candidate shall be printed in type of uniform size and darkness, and with uniform spacing. (2) The elections official shall provide a Spanish translation to those candidates who wish to have one, and shall select a person to provide that translation who is one of the following: (A) A certified and registered interpreter on the Judicial Council Master List. (B) An interpreter categorized as âcertifiedâ or âprofessionally qualifiedâ by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. (C) From an institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. (D) A current voting member in good standing of the American Translators Association. (E) A current member in good standing of the American Association of Language Specialists. (c) (1) In addition to the statement prepared pursuant to subdivision (a), if the elections official who is conducting the election or the county elections official who is conducting a local agencyâs election, including a local election that is consolidated with the county election, permits electronic distribution of a candidateâs statement, each candidate for nonpartisan elective office in the local agency may prepare a candidateâs statement for the purpose of electronic distribution pursuant to this subdivision. (2) A statement prepared pursuant to this subdivision shall be posted on the website of the elections official, and may be included in a voterâs pamphlet that is electronically distributed by the elections official pursuant to Section 13300.7, but shall not be included in a voterâs pamphlet that is printed and mailed to voters pursuant to subdivision (b). (3) A statement that is printed in the voterâs pamphlet and mailed to voters pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be included with the statement that is prepared and electronically distributed pursuant to this subdivision. (4) A statement that is prepared and electronically distributed pursuant to this subdivision shall be displayed in type of uniform size and darkness, and with uniform spacing. (5) The elections o
‹ Prev All California sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.