Section 12 Of Chapter 1. General Provisions From California Elections Code >> Division 0.5. >> Chapter 1.
12
. 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 him or her concerning
his or her 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 his or her 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 his or her office 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 his or her
declaration, nomination paper, affidavit, or other evidence of
intention to be a candidate filed with that officer, by special
delivery registered mail with request for return receipt.