Section 8403 Of Chapter 3. Nomination Papers From California Elections Code >> Division 8. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3.
8403
. (a) (1) Nomination papers shall be prepared, circulated,
signed, and delivered to the county elections official for
examination no earlier than 148 days before the election and no later
than 5 p.m. 88 days before the election.
(2) For offices for which no filing fee is required, nomination
papers shall be prepared, circulated, signed, and delivered to the
county elections official for examination no earlier than 193 days
before the election and no later than 5 p.m. 88 days before the
election.
(b) All nomination documents that are required to be filed in the
office of the Secretary of State shall, within 24 days after being
left with the county elections official in compliance with paragraph
(1) or (2) of subdivision (a), be forwarded by the county elections
official to the Secretary of State, who shall receive and file them.
(c) If the total number of signatures submitted to a county
elections official for an office entirely within that county does not
equal the number of signatures needed to qualify the candidate, the
county elections official shall declare the petition void and is not
required to verify the signatures. If the district falls within two
or more counties, the county elections official shall within two
working days report in writing to the Secretary of State the total
number of signatures submitted.
(d) If the Secretary of State finds that the total number of
signatures submitted in the district or state is less than the
minimum number required to qualify the candidate he or she shall
within one working day notify in writing the counties involved that
they need not verify the signatures.