California Elections Code

§ 8401

ELEC § 8401 Effective Jan 1, 2016Div. 8 · Part 2 · Ch. 3

Statute text

(a)Upon receiving the nomination paper if, from the examination of such pursuant to Section 8400, more than 500 signatures have been signed on the nomination paper petition, the elections official may use a random sampling technique for verification of signatures. The random sample of signatures to be verified shall be drawn in such a manner that every signature filed with the elections official shall be given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The random sampling shall include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater.

(b)If the statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is within 90 to 110 percent of the number of signatures of qualified voters needed to declare the nomination paper sufficient, the elections official shall examine and verify each signature filed.

(c)In determining from the records of registration, what number of valid signatures are signed on the nomination paper, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles is permitted by law.

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Legislative history

Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 75. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.