June 30 - July 14

(E-127 to E-113)

Cities Publish Election Notice

Between these dates, any city that is consolidating an election with the November general will publish a Notice of Election one time in a newspaper of general circulation stating:

· The date and polling hours of the election

· Any offices to be filled and any measure to be voted on, including a synopsis of each measure.

§12101, 12111

July 2

(E-125)

Special Districts & Cities Deliver Notice of Election to County Clerk

Last day for district secretaries and City Clerks to deliver Notice of Election listing the elective offices to be filled and any measure (if known at the time) to be voted on and to deliver a map of the District or City to the Elections Department. Cities and special districts should include in the notice how a tie vote will be resolved.

§10509, 10522, 10524, 10551, 15651

July 4

(E-123)

County Holiday - Office Closed

July 4*

(E-123)

Schools to Deliver Specifications of the Election Order - Candidates

Last day for a school board conducting a governing board election to deliver a resolution known as "Specifications of the Election Order" and file it with the county Superintendent of Schools and county elections official, stating the date and purpose of the election.

Ed. Code §5322

A clause to determine a tie vote is included in the "Specifications of the Elections Order".

Ed. Code §5016

July 7 - Aug. 6

(E-120 to E-90)

Notice of Election

Between these dates the County Clerk, as a matter of policy, will publish a Notice of Election containing the date of the election, the offices to be filled, where nomination papers are available, and the deadline for filing Declarations of Candidacy.

Notice of central counting place may be combined with this notice.

§12109, 12112

July 14- Aug 8

(E-113 to E-88)

Candidate Nomination Period

Candidates obtain and file their Declaration of Candidacy for school and special district boards, and, if applicable, file Candidate's Statement of Qualifications. Forms are obtained from and filed with the county Elections Department.

(§10510, 13307, 13311)

Candidates for city office must be nominated by not less than 20 nor more than 30 voters in cities with 1,000 or more registered voters. The nomination papers shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the nominee that he or she will accept the office if elected. Nomination documents shall be obtained from and filed with the City Clerk.

(§10220-10230, Gov. code §36503)

When nomination and/or candidacy papers are issued, the elections official shall provide candidates with:

·the rules governing conflicts of interest and campaign statements (candidates for city offices must file with Declaration of Candidacy);

·rules governing candidate statement charges and filings; and

·a blank form of the "Code of Fair Campaign Practices" and copies of Election Code §20440-20444.

July 16

(E-111)

(Date designated by SOS)

Statewide Candidate Statements Due

Last day for U. S. Senate candidates to submit 250-word candidate's statement and picture for publication in the State Ballot Pamphlet.

SOS deadline

July 29

(E-98)

Change of Candidate's Ballot Designation

Last day for candidates to request in writing to both the Secretary of State and Elections Department that a different ballot designation be used for the November election than the designation used at the primary election. This request must be accompanied by a ballot designation worksheet.

§13107(e), Cal. Code Reg., title 2 §20711(e)

July 31

(E-96)

Semiannual Campaign Statement

Last day to file semiannual campaign statements, if required, by all candidates and committees. For period ending 6/30/2014.

Gov. Code §84200, 84218

July 31

(E-96)

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Reports

Candidates or committees making independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure shall file independent expenditure reports as if it were formed or existing primarily to support or oppose the candidate or measure.

Gov. Code §84203.5

By Aug 8

(E-88)

Candidate's Statement - Legislative, Congressional, Superior Court, Board of Supervisors

By this date, nominees may prepare a statement of qualifications, not to exceed 200/250 words, to be included in the Voter's Information Pamphlet. The statement shall be filed and paid for at the time it is filed. Obtain cost information from the Elections Department.

§13307

Aug. 8

(E-88)

Last Day to Submit Resolutions of Consolidation

Final deadline for the governing body of a district, city, school or other political subdivision which requests consolidation of a local election for candidates and/or measures to file the request with the county Elections Department.

Whenever resolutions calling for a measure to be placed on the ballot are filed, immediately after that filing date will be a 10-day public inspection period. Documents will be on public display at the elections Department, 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz.

During this period, any voter of the jurisdiction or the county elections official may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted.

§9190, 9380, 10401, 10402, 10403

Aug. 8

(E-88)

Deadline for Filing Tax Rate Statement for Bond Measures

Last day to file Tax Rate Statement for any bond measure appearing on the November ballot.

§9401

Aug. 8

(E-88)

Notification of Mail Ballot Precinct

Last day for the county elections official to determine that there are 250 or fewer persons registered to vote in any precinct. The county elections official may then mail to each voter a vote-by-mail ballot along with a statement that there will be no polling place for the general election.

§3005

Aug. 9 - 13

(E-87 to E-83)

Extension of Nomination Period

Extension period for anyone other than the incumbent to file a Declaration of Candidacy and Nomination Petition if the incumbent did not file by August 8^th. This provision does not apply if there is no incumbent eligible to be elected.

§8022, 8024, 8204

Aug. 13

(E-83)

Insufficient Number of Nominees

SPECIAL DISTRICTS: If by 5 p.m. on this day, only one person has been nominated or an insufficient number of persons has been nominated to fill an office or offices, and a petition signed by 10% or 50 voters (whichever is the smaller number) has not been submitted, the elections official shall certify this fact to the Board of Supervisors. A person who has filed a Declaration of Candidacy shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors at a regular or special meeting held prior to the first Monday before the first Friday in December. If no one filed, another qualified person shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors on or before November 4 and shall take office and serve as if elected

§10515

Aug. 13

(E-83)

Insufficient Number of Nominees (continued)

SCHOOLS/COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION: If by 5 p.m. on this day, only one person has been nominated or there are no nominees for the office(s) to be filled or in the case of members elected at large or by trustee areas, there are fewer than the number to be elected, and no petition is signed by 10% or 50 voters (whichever is the smaller number), an appointment will be made. The qualified person nominated shall be seated at the organizational meeting of the board, or, if an insufficient number is nominated, the governing board shall appoint as necessary at a meeting prior to Election Day. Persons so appointed shall be seated at the organizational meeting as if they had been elected.

In the event no one is nominated, the governing board shall publish a notice one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the district stating the board intends to make an appointment and informing the public how to apply for the office.

Ed. Code §5326, 5328, 5328.5

CITIES: If by 5 p.m. on this day (or the 88^th day if there is no extension) there are no nominees or only one nominee for an elective city office, the city council may decide to fill the office by appointment or proceed with the election.

Prior to the council's action, the City Clerk must publish a one-time notice of the facts and options under Elec. Code §10229. The council may not make an appointment until five days after this publication.

If no appointment is made by the 75^th day, the election is held. If any citywide office or measure is on the ballot, the election is held regardless of insufficient nominees.

§10229

Aug. 14, 11 a.m.

(E-82)

Randomized Alphabet Drawing

Secretary of State shall conduct the randomized alphabet drawing to determine the order in which the candidates will appear on the general election ballot.

On this same day, the County Clerk shall conduct a randomized alphabet drawing for the offices of State Senate and Assembly.

§13112(b)(1)(C)

Aug. 14

(E-82)

Deadline to File Arguments, Analyses for Measures

Arguments for or against any measure called for the November 2014 election are due by 5 p.m.

§9163, 9316

County Counsel to submit analysis for county and school/special district measures;

§9160, 9313

City attorney to submit analysis of city measures.

§9280

County Auditor, if previously directed by the Board of Supervisors, to submit fiscal analysis of measures.

§9160

Arguments and analyses are public after the 5 p.m. deadline. (Department Policy)

Aug. 15 - 24

(E-81 to 72)

10-day Public Inspection for Arguments and Analyses

10-day public inspection of arguments filed by August 14. During the 10-calendar-day public examination period provided by this section, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or the county elections official, himself or herself, may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted. The writ of mandate or injunction request shall be filed no later than the end of the 10-calendar-day public examination period.

§9190

Aug. 21

(E-75)

Deadline for Filing Rebuttals to Measures

On this date Rebuttal Arguments will be due by 5 p.m.

§9167, 9317

Rebuttals are public after the 5 p.m. deadline.

(Department policy)

Aug. 22 - Aug. 31

(E-74 to E-65)

10-day Public Inspection for Rebuttals

10-day public inspection of rebuttals for measures filed August 8. Documents will be on public display at the Elections Department, 701 Ocean St., Room 210, Santa Cruz.

During this period, any voter of the jurisdiction or the county elections official may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted.

§9190, 9380

Aug. 28

(E-68)

Certified List of Candidates - Federal and State Offices

Last day for the Secretary of State to send to each elections official a list showing the name, party preference (or lack of party preference), and ballot designation of every person who has been nominated as a candidate for public office and is entitled to receive votes within the county at the general election.

§8148

Aug. 28

(E-68)

Randomized List from Secretary of State

By this day, the SOS shall provide to elections officials a list of candidates for each county arranged according to the randomized alphabet drawn on August 14, 2014.

Sept. 1

(E-64)

County Holiday - Office Closed

Sept. 5

(E-60)

Special Absent Voters' Ballot Applications

The first day county election officials may process applications for special absent voters' ballots. The application must include the statement that the voter cannot vote an absentee ballot during the normal absentee voting period of October 6 to October 28, 2014 because of military or other contingencies that preclude normal mail delivery.

§300(b), 3103

Sept. 5 - 15

(E-60 to E-50)

Report of Registration - 60-day County Report

During this period, county elections officials shall send to the Secretary of State a summary statement of the number of persons registered by party in their counties and in each political subdivision thereof as of Sept. 5, 2014.

§2187

Sept. 8 - Oct. 21

(E-57 to E-14)

Statement of Write-in Candidacy and Nomination Papers for Special Districts only

During this period write-in candidates must file their Statement of Write-in Candidacy and Nomination Papers with the county elections official.

§8601

Sept. 11

(E-54)

54-Day Walking Lists Prepared

The County Elections Official will prepare the 54-day voter index that is available for purchase upon written application at a cost of 50 cents per 1,000 names.

§2184

Sept. 20

(E-45)

State Ballot Pamphlets Available

By this date, the Secretary of State shall furnish copies of the State Ballot Pamphlet to cities, counties, members of the Legislature, proponents of statewide ballot measures, public libraries, and educational institutions.

§9096

Sept. 25 - Oct. 14

(E-40 to E-21)

Counties Mail Sample Ballots / State Ballot Pamphlet Mailing

Between these dates the county elections official shall mail a Sample Ballot and polling place notice to each registered voter.

Between these dates the Secretary of State shall mail state ballot pamphlets to all households in which voters were registered by Friday, Sept. 5 (E-60). The county will do a supplemental mailing of state pamphlets to voters who register after Sept. 5.

§9094,13303, 13304

Oct. 5*

(E-30)

First Pre-Election Statement

Last day to file campaign statements for candidates and committees covering the period ending Sept. 30, 2014. (E-35).

Gov. Code §84200.5, 84200.7b

Oct. 5*

(E-30)

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Reports

Candidates or committees making independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure shall file independent expenditure reports as if it were formed or existing primarily to support or oppose the candidate or measure.

Gov. Code §84203.5, 82031

Oct. 6

(E-29)

Establish Precinct Boards and Polling Places

Last day for the county Elections Department to appoint board members and polling places and provide a copy to each county central committee and make a copy available to the public.

§12286, 12318

Oct. 6

(E-29)

Last Day to Register to Vote to Ensure Receipt of Sample Ballot

Voter registration cards received by this date (postmark NOT ACCEPTABLE) will be added to the rolls and the voters will receive a Sample Ballot booklet prepared by the county elections official. The voters who submit cards after this date will NOT receive a Sample Ballot booklet, only a notice advising the late registrant that he/she will not receive a Sample Ballot and Voter's Information Pamphlet.

§9094, 13303

Oct. 6 - Oct. 28

(E-29 to E-7)

Vote-by-Mail Ballot Application Period

Between these dates voters may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot from the Elections Department. Under certain conditions voters may obtain an absentee ballot after Oct. 28.

§3001, 3003

Oct. 6

(E-29)

29-Day Walking Lists Prepared

The County Elections Official will prepare the 29-day voter index available for purchase upon written application at a cost of 50 cents per 1,000 names.

§2184

Oct. 13

(E-22)

County Holiday - Office Closed

Oct. 19 - Nov. 3

(E-16 to E-1)

Late Contribution/Independent Expenditure Report

During this time late contribution/independent expenditure reports must be filed by FAX, guaranteed overnight delivery or personal delivery.

Gov. Code §84203, 84204

Oct. 19 - Nov. 3

(E-16 to E-1)

24-Hour Statement of Organization Filing Requirement - Recipient Committees & Slate Mailer Organizations

During the 16 days immediately preceding an election, any person or entity that qualifies as a recipient committee or slate mailer organization must file a Form 410 within 24 hours by FAX, guaranteed overnight delivery or personal delivery.

Gov. Code §84101, 84108

Oct. 20

(E-15)

15-day Voter Registration

The county elections official shall accept an affidavit of registration executed as part of a voter registration card in the forthcoming election if the affidavit is executed on or before the 15th day prior to the election, and if any of the following apply:

1) The affidavit is postmarked on or before the 15th day prior to the election and received by mail by the county elections official.

2) The affidavit is submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles or accepted by any other public agency designated as a voter registration agency pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973gg) prior to the election.

3) The affidavit is delivered to the county elections official by means other than those described in paragraphs (2) and (3) on or before the 15th day prior to the election.

§2107

Oct. 21 - Nov. 4

(E-14 to E)

New Citizens Registration Period

Registration for new citizens shall begin the 14^th day prior to an election and ends at the close of polls on November 4, 2014. A new citizen registering to vote after the close of registration shall provide the county elections official with proof of citizenship prior to voting, and shall declare that he or she has established residency in California. New citizens vote a regular ballot.

§331, 3500 - 3501

Oct. 23

(E-12)

Second Pre-Election Statement

The last day to file campaign statements for candidates and committees covering the period from 10/01/2014 to 10/18/2014.

Gov. Code §84200.5, 84200.7

Oct. 23

(E-12)

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Reports

Candidates or committees making independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure shall file independent expenditure reports as if it were formed or existing primarily to support or oppose the candidate or measure.

Gov. Code §84203.5, 82031

Oct. 25*

(E-10)

Notice of Central Counting Place

Last day for county elections official to publish the notice that the general election ballots will be counted at a specified public place. The notice shall be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.

§12109

No later than

Oct. 28

(E-7)

Publish Polling Places and Precinct Board Members

Not less than one week before the election, the elections official shall publish the list of polling places and precinct board members.

§12105-12108, Gov. Code §6061

Oct. 31

(E-4)

Date set by law

Quarterly Statements by Ballot Measure Committees

All committees primarily formed to support or oppose the qualification, passage or defeat of a ballot measure must file quarterly campaign statements for the period July 1 through Sept. 30 during any semiannual period in which the measure is not being voted upon. Following the election, such committees are only required to file semiannual statements unless they make contributions or expenditures to qualify, support or oppose other measures, in which case they would have an ongoing duty to file quarterly statements.

Gov. Code §84202.3

Oct. 29 - Nov. 4

(E-6 to E)

Absentee Ballots - Late Conditions

Period in which any voter may apply in writing for a vote-by-mail ballot if, because of specific conditions, he/she will be unable to go to the polls. A written statement is not necessary. The voter may either personally or through the authorized representative return the ballot to the Elections Department or polling place in the county.

§3021

Oct. 31

(E-4)

County Campaign Disclosure Statement - 3rd Pre-Election Statement

The last day for county candidates to file their disclosure statement for the period ending 10/19/2014 to 10/30/2014.

Santa Cruz County Code §8.04.080(2)c

Nov. 1 - 2

(E-3 to E-2)

Weekend Voting

The Santa Cruz County Elections Department and Watsonville City Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for weekend voting.

Nov. 4

(E)

General Election Day

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

§1000, 14212

Nov. 4

(E)

Unopposed Judge: Superior Court

On this date, the County Clerk declares elected any incumbent superior or municipal court judge who has filed for office but whose name did not appear on either the primary or general election ballots because he or she was unopposed. §8203

Nov. 6 - Dec. 2

(E+2 to E+28)

Official Canvass

The official canvass of precinct returns is to be completed during this time. §15301, 15372

Nov. 27 - 28

(E+23 to E+24)

County Holiday - Office Closed

Dec. 1

(E+27)

Candidates Elected to State Assembly & Senate Assume Office

Terms begin the first Monday in December following their election.

CA. Const. Art. IV, §2

Dec. 2

(E+28)

Statement of Vote to Board of Supervisors - Certificates of Election Prepared

The elections official shall prepare a certified statement of the results of the election and submit it to the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors shall declare the winners for each office and the results of each measure under its jurisdiction. The county elections official shall make and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election.

§15372, 15400-15401

Dec. 5

(E+31)

Candidates Elected to Special Districts and School Districts Assume Office

SPECIAL DISTRICTS: Officers declared elected or appointed (i.e. as provided in §10515) take office this date at noon after having taken the oath or posted any bond required by the principal act.

§10554

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS: Officers elected to school office take office this date pursuant to Ed. Code §5017, though no reference is made to "noon" as is the case in Elec. Code §10554.

5 days after canvass

Recount May Be Requested

Within five (5) days after the completion of the official canvass, any voter may request a recount by filing a written request with the Elections official and specifying that candidates and/or measures are to be recounted.

The request may specify the order of the precincts for the recount, and the petitioning voter shall, before commencement of each day's recount, deposit such sum as the official requires to cover costs (approximately $500 per day).

"Completion of the canvass" shall be presumed to be the time when the elections official signs the certified Statement of Vote.

§15620 - 15634

Varies between

10 days to

6 months following the certification of the vote

Contesting Election

Any elector of a county, city, or of any political subdivision of either may contest any election held therein for any of the following causes:

a) That the precinct board or any member thereof was guilty of malconduct.

b) That the person who has been declared elected to an office was not, at the time of the election, eligible to that office.

c) That the defendant has given to any elector or member of a precinct board any bribe or reward, or has offered any bribe or reward for the purpose of procuring his election, or has committed any other offense against the elective franchise defined in Division 18 (commencing with Section 18000).

d) That illegal votes were cast.

e) That eligible voters who attempted to vote in accordance with the laws of the state were denied their right to vote.

f) That the precinct board in conducting the election or in canvassing the returns, made errors sufficient to change the result of the election as to any person who has been declared elected.

g) That there was an error in the vote-counting programs or summation of ballot counts. §16100

The contestant shall verify the statement of contest, as provided by Section 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and shall file it within the following times after either the declaration of the result of the election or the declaration of the results of any postcanvass risk-limiting audit conducted pursuant to Section 15560 by the body canvassing the returns thereof:

a) In cases other than cases of a tie, where the contest is brought on any of the grounds mentioned in subdivision (c) of Section 16100, six months.

b) In all cases of tie, 20 days.

c) In cases involving presidential electors, 10 days.

d) In all other cases, 30 days.

§16401

Dec. 5

(E+31)

Statement of Vote to Secretary of State

No later than this date the elections official shall send one copy of the Statement of Vote to the Secretary of State. §15375

Dec. 12

(E+38)

Certificates of Election

The Secretary of State shall issue certificates of election to persons elected to U.S. Senate, Congress, and legislative offices.

§15503-15504

Jan. 3, 2015

(E+60)

Candidates Elected to U. S. Senate and Congress Assume Office

Terms begin at noon on January 3.

U.S. Const. Amendment XX, §1

Jan. 5, 2015

(E+62)

Candidates Elected to County Offices, Supervisors, Judges & Statewide Offices Assume Office

Terms begin at noon on the first Monday after January 1 succeeding their election for county offices and supervisors. Superior Court Judges and Statewide Constitutional Offices also begin on this date; although, there is no mention of the noon hour.

Gov. Code §24200; CA Const. Art. VI, §16 & Art. V

Period Following Election

Document Retention

Nomination documents and signatures in-lieu of filing fee petitions (if applicable) shall be held during the term of office for which they were filed and for four years after the expiration of the term. They may be destroyed as soon as practicable thereafter provided no legal action or proceeding is pending.

Since the November 2014 election has federal offices on the ballot, precinct supplies and voted ballots must be preserved for 22 months following the election. If no legal action is pending at the time, the documents may be destroyed or recycled. Unused ballots may be destroyed or recycled after the November 2014 election.

Initiative, referendum and recall petitions must be preserved for eight months following certification of the election for which the petition qualified or eight months after final examination of the petition by the clerk. If no legal action or proceeding is then pending, the petitions may be destroyed as soon as practicable.

Elections Code Division 17, commencing with §17000

Jan. 31, 2015

Semiannual Campaign Statement

Last day to file semiannual campaign statements, if required, by all candidates and committees. Gov. Code §84200, 84218

Jan. 31, 2015

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Reports

Candidates or committees making independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure shall file independent expenditure reports as if it were formed or existing primarily to support or oppose the candidate or measure.

Gov. Code §84203.5, 82031