Article 8. Nominated Candidates of California Elections Code >> Division 8. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 8.

Any candidate for a nonpartisan office who at a primary election receives votes on a majority of all the ballots cast for candidates for that office shall be elected to that office. Where two or more candidates are to be elected to a given office and a greater number of candidates receive a majority than the number to be elected, those candidates shall be elected who secure the highest votes of those receiving a majority, and equal in number to the number to be elected. Where a candidate has been elected to a nonpartisan office at the primary election, that office shall not appear on the ballot at the ensuing general election, notwithstanding the death, resignation, or other disqualification of the candidate at a time subsequent to the primary election.

If no candidate has been elected to a nonpartisan office pursuant to Section 8140 or if the number of candidates elected at the primary election is less than the total number to be elected to that office, then candidates for that office at the ensuing election shall be those candidates not elected at the primary who received the next highest number of votes cast for nomination to that office, equal in number to twice the number remaining to be elected to that office, or less, if the total number of candidates not elected is less.

Except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 8142, only the candidates for a voter-nominated office who receive the highest or second highest number of votes cast at the primary election shall appear on the ballot as candidates for that office at the ensuing general election. More than one candidate with the same party preference designation may participate in the general election pursuant to this subdivision. Notwithstanding the designation made by the candidate pursuant to Section 8002.5, no candidate for a voter-nominated office shall be deemed to be the official nominee for that office of any political party, and no party is entitled to have a candidate with its party preference designation participate in the general election unless that candidate is one of the candidates receiving the highest or second highest number of votes cast at the primary election.

(a) In the case of a tie vote, nonpartisan candidates receiving the same number of votes shall be candidates at the ensuing general election if they qualify pursuant to Section 8141 whether or not there are more candidates at the general election than prescribed by this article. In no case shall the tie be determined by lot.
  (b) In the case of a tie vote among candidates at a primary election for a voter-nominated office, the following applies:
  (1) All candidates receiving the highest number of votes cast for any candidate shall be candidates at the ensuing general election whether or not there are more candidates at the general election than prescribed by this article.
  (2) Notwithstanding Section 8141.5, if a tie vote among candidates results in more than one primary candidate qualifying for the general election pursuant to subdivision (a), candidates receiving fewer votes shall not be candidates at the general election, even if they receive the second highest number of votes cast.
  (3) If only one candidate receives the highest number of votes cast but there is a tie vote among two or more candidates receiving the second highest number of votes cast, each of those second-place candidates shall be a candidate at the ensuing general election along with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast, regardless of whether there are more candidates at the general election than prescribed by this article.
  (4) In no case shall the tie be determined by lot.

If the number of candidates elected at a primary election to any nonpartisan office is less than the number of persons to be elected to that office, there shall be printed on the ballot, in a group, only the names of the other candidates receiving the next highest number of votes for nomination to that office as may equal twice the number of persons remaining to be elected to that office, or a smaller number if the list of candidates is exhausted. This group shall be preceded by the designation of the office and the words "vote for ____," the blank being filled by a number equal to the number of persons remaining to be elected to that office.

The candidates for election to membership on the county central committee, equal in number to the number to be elected, receiving the highest number of votes in their supervisorial district or Assembly district, as the case may be, shall be declared elected.

It is the duty of the officers charged with the canvass of the returns of any primary election in any county or city to issue certificates of nomination to candidates nominated for nonpartisan offices voted for wholly within one county.

Certificates of nomination or election issued by county or municipal officers shall be issued immediately upon the completion of the canvass of the returns at the primary election.

The Secretary of State shall issue certificates of nomination to candidates nominated for Representatives in Congress, Members of the State Senate and Assembly, members of the State Board of Equalization, and for all statewide offices.

Not less than 73 days, and not more than 90 days, before the general election, the Secretary of State shall notify each candidate for partisan office and voter-nominated office of the names, addresses, offices, ballot designations, and party preferences of all other persons whose names are to appear on the ballot for the same office at the general election.

Not less than 68 days before the general election, the Secretary of State shall deliver to the appropriate county elections official a certificate showing:
  (a) The name of every person entitled to receive votes within that county at the general election who has received the nomination as a candidate for public office pursuant to this chapter, the designation of the public office for which he or she has been nominated, and, if applicable, the ballot designation specified in accordance with Section 13107.
  (b) For each nominee for a partisan office, the name of the party that has nominated him or her.
  (c) For each nominee for a voter-nominated office, the designation made by the candidate pursuant to Section 8002.5.

The Secretary of State shall certify and transmit the list of candidates for each office according to Assembly districts, in the order of arrangement prescribed by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 13100) of Division 13. In the case of each county containing more than one Assembly district, he or she shall transmit separate lists for each Assembly district.

The certificate of the Secretary of State showing candidates nominated or selected at a primary election, and justices of the Supreme Court and courts of appeal to appear on the general elections ballot, shall be in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State.