Article 7. Runoff Elections of California Water Code >> Division 11. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 7.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10 of the Elections Code, in the event that in an irrigation district containing 500,000 acres or more there are three or more candidates for an elective office and at the general district election no one candidate for the elective office secures a majority of the votes cast, a runoff election shall be held.

The runoff election shall be held on the last Tuesday in November, next following the general election, between the two candidates who secure the greatest number of votes for the elective office at the general district election.

The governing body shall certify the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes for the elective office to the county elections official as the candidates in the runoff election.

The voters qualified to vote for the elective offices at the preceding general district election shall be the only voters qualified for the runoff election.

Not less than seven days before any runoff election, any voter entitled to vote by vote by mail ballot as provided in Section 10530 of the Elections Code may file with the county elections official, either in person or by mail, his or her written application for a vote by mail ballot. Vote by mail voting shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 10530 of the Elections Code.

The county elections official shall commence the canvass of the returns on the first Wednesday after each runoff election.

Not later than the second Friday in December next following the runoff election, the governing body at a regular or special meeting shall declare elected the candidate receiving the majority of the votes cast for that office at the runoff election.

Officers elected at a runoff election shall take office pursuant to Section 21101.

In all other respects a runoff election shall be conducted in the same manner as the general election for that office held pursuant to the Uniform District Election Law, insofar as practicable.