California Elections Code

§ 12

ELEC § 12 Effective Jan 1, 2026Div. 0.5 · Ch. 1

Statute text

Whenever any candidate files a declaration of candidacy, nomination paper, or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for any public office at any election in this state with either the Secretary of State or a county elections official, the candidate shall by the filing irrevocably appoint the Secretary of State or the county elections official with whom the filing is made, and their successors in office, the candidate’s attorneys upon whom all process in any action or proceeding against the candidate concerning the candidacy or the election laws may be served with the same effect as if the candidate had been lawfully served with process. The appointment shall continue until the day of the election. If in any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with any matters concerning the candidate’s candidacy or the election laws it is shown by affidavit to the satisfaction of a court or judge that personal service of process against the candidate cannot be made with the exercise of due diligence, the court or judge may make an order that the service be made upon the candidate by delivering by hand to the Secretary of State or the county elections official appointed as the candidate’s attorney for service of process, or to any person employed in the office of the Secretary of State or the county elections official in the capacity of assistant or deputy, one copy of the process for the defendant to be served, together with a copy of the order authorizing the service. Service in this manner constitutes personal service upon the candidate. The Secretary of State and the county elections officials of all counties shall keep a record of all process served upon them under this section, and shall record therein the time of service and their action with reference thereto. Upon the receipt of service of process the Secretary of State or the county elections official shall immediately give notice of the service of the process to the candidate by forwarding the copy of the process to the candidate at the address shown on the candidate’s declaration, nomination paper, affidavit, or other evidence of intention to be a candidate filed with that officer, by certified mail with request for return receipt.

Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 304, Sec. 1. (AB 1513) Effective January 1, 2026.