2009 California Government Code - Section 23374.1-23374.19 :: Article 4.5. Election To Select County Officers And Location Of County Seat In The Approved County

GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 23374.1-23374.19

23374.1.  If the election for the purpose of determining whether the
proposed county shall be created results in the county's creation
being approved, an election for purposes of determining the location
of the county seat and the selection of county officers shall be held
in the approved county at the next statewide primary or general
election date. The board of supervisors of each affected county shall
order and give proclamation and notice of the election. The election
may be consolidated with the statewide primary or general election.

23374.2.  The proclamation and notice of election provided for
pursuant to this article shall be published at least once a week for
three weeks commencing not less than 70 days prior to the date of the
election in a newspaper of general circulation in the approved
county.

23374.3.  The content of the notice of election for the election to
select the county officers for the approved county and the location
of the county seat in the approved county shall be determined by the
board of supervisors of the principal county. The notice of election
shall include a statement that any city council in a city within the
approved county or any member or members of the council authorized by
the council, any qualified elector entitled to vote at the election,
any bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of
qualified electors and associations may submit and file written
arguments with the elections official of the principal county for
printing and distribution in the ballot pamphlet, in accordance with
Section 9163 of the Elections Code.

23374.4.  All registered voters residing in the boundaries of the
approved county, who have been registered voters of the approved
county 29 days prior to the election provided for in this article are
entitled to vote in such election. Registration and transfers of
registration shall be made and shall close in the manner and at the
times provided by law for registration and transfers of registration
for a general election in the state.

23374.5.  Ballots at the election provided for in this article shall
contain the statement:

  "For_______________________________as county seat
  (name of county seat as determined by
  commission)"

   Opposite the statement, and to its right, the words "Yes" and "No"
shall be printed on separate lines, with voting squares. If a voter
stamps a cross (+) in the voting square after the printed word "Yes,"
his or her vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption. If he or
she stamps a cross (+) in the voting square after the printed word
"No," his or her vote shall be counted against its adoption.

23374.6.  Candidates for elective offices of the approved county
shall file nomination papers at the same time and in the same manner
as candidates for the governing body of general law counties.

23374.7.  The election shall be governed and controlled by the
general election laws of the state so far as applicable, except as
otherwise provided in this article.

23374.8.  The clerk of the principal county shall cause a ballot
pamphlet concerning the election of county officers for the approved
county and the location of the county seat in the approved county to
be printed and mailed to each registered voter of the approved
county.
   The ballot pamphlet shall contain the following:
   (a) The names of the persons to be voted for to fill the county
offices designated by the commission.
   (b) The argument for the location of the county seat in the
approved county.
   (c) The argument against the location of the county seat in the
approved county.

23374.9.  The clerk shall also prepare and mail to the registered
voters of the approved county a sample ballot. The sample ballot
shall be mailed with and at the same time as the ballot pamphlet.

23374.10.  The law relating to the preparation, printing, and
distribution of sample ballots and general elections does not apply
to any election held pursuant to this article.

23374.11.  Except as otherwise provided by this article, the
election shall be conducted as other elections in the principal
county.

23374.12.  The election officers appointed pursuant to Section 23363
for purposes of the election held to determine whether the proposed
county shall be created shall also act in such capacity for purposes
of the election held to select county officers for the approved
county and the location of the county seat in the approved county.

23374.13.  The elections official of the principal county shall
furnish to the officers of each precinct in the approved county the
supplies and equipment as provided for in Sections 14105 and 14110 of
the Elections Code. The elections official of each other affected
county shall provide to the officers of each precinct the indexes of
registration for the precincts of the approved county within their
respective county. In addition, the elections official may, with the
approval of the board of supervisors, furnish the original books of
affidavits of registration or other material necessary to verify
signatures.

23374.14.  Immediately on the closing of the polls, the election
officers shall, in connection with the affected county they
represent:
   (a) Canvass the ballots.
   (b) Make up and certify the tally sheets of the ballots cast.
   (c) Seal up the ballots.
   (d) Attach a statement, signed by each election officer, to the
tally sheets showing the number of votes cast, the number of votes
cast for each candidate and the numbers of votes cast for and against
the proposed location of the county seat in the approved county.

23374.15.  The clerk of the principal county shall, upon the
completion of a canvass of the vote, forward to the board of the
principal county a certified copy of the results of the canvass,
giving the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of
votes cast for and against the proposed location of the county seat
in the approved county.

23374.16.  Upon receiving a certified copy of the results of the
canvass, the board of supervisors of the principal county, by
resolution, shall:
   (a) Declare the results of the election on the county seat. If
more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast within the
approved new county are in favor of the county seat, such location
shall be the county seat until removed in the manner provided by law.
Where the proposed county seat is not affirmed by the voters, the
board of supervisors of the approved county shall designate a
temporary county seat until removed in the manner provided by law.
   (b) Name the persons receiving the highest number of votes cast
for the several offices to be filled at the general election and
declare those persons duly elected to the respective offices and that
they shall enter upon the duties of their offices upon election and
qualification, and prescribe the amount of the bonds such elected
officers shall provide upon taking office.

23374.17.  The clerk of the principal county shall immediately make
out and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election,
authenticated by his signature and the seal of the board of the
principal county.

23374.18.  All the officers elected at the election shall hold their
offices until the times provided by general law for the election and
qualification of such officers, and until their successors are
elected and qualified.

23374.19.  All costs of an election shall first be paid by the
principal county. The new county shall then reimburse the principal
county for all costs of the election held pursuant to this article.


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