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HomeElections CodeDiv. 0.5Ch. 2§ 101 Petition Signature Disclosure Requirements

§ 101 Petition Signature Disclosure Requirements

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 101 Petition Signature Disclosure Requirements

This law says any voter petition (like a ballot initiative or recall) must start with a big, 11‑point notice that includes specific sentences, and it also tells the people who start the petition they can pull it back before it makes it onto the ballot.

Key Takeaways

  • •All voter petitions must have a special notice in 11‑point font before the signature section.
  • •The notice must include three exact sentences, with the first two in bold.
  • •If the petition has a disclosure statement, a specific bold warning about the month must be added.
  • •Initiative proposers can withdraw the petition any time before it qualifies for the ballot.

Example

A neighborhood group wants to gather signatures to put a new park funding measure on the ballot. Before any signatures, they must print the required notice in 11‑point type at the top of the petition.

The group prints the three required lines (the bold “NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC,” the bold disclosure line if needed, and the non‑bold line about paid gatherers) before the signature area, and they also include the non‑bold line saying they can withdraw the petition any time before it qualifies.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 101 Petition Signature Disclosure Requirements

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall petition required to be signed by voters shall contain in 11-point type, before that portion of the petition for voters’ signatures, printed names, and residence addresses, the following language, in order: (1) “NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC:”. This text shall be in a boldface type. (2) If the petition includes the disclosure statement described by subdivision (b) of Section 107, the text “SIGN ONLY IF IT IS THE SAME MONTH SHOWN IN THE OFFICIAL TOP FUNDERS OR YOU SAW AN “OFFICIAL TOP FUNDERS” SHEET FOR THIS MONTH.” This text shall be in a boldface type. (3) “THIS PETITION MAY BE CIRCULATED BY A PAID SIGNATURE GATHERER OR A VOLUNTEER. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK.” This text shall be in a non-boldface type. (b) A state initiative petition shall contain, in the same location and type size described in subdivision (a), the following language in a non-boldface type: “THE PROPONENTS OF THIS PROPOSED INITIATIVE MEASURE HAVE THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW THIS PETITION AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE MEASURE QUALIFIES FOR THE BALLOT.” (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 887, Sec. 2. (SB 1360) Effective January 1, 2023.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Related Statutes

  • § 100 Voter Petition Signature Requirements
  • § 100.5 Voter Signature Assistance Rules
  • § 10010 District Election Public Hearings
  • § 102 Initiative Petition Circulation Age
  • § 10200 Election Validity Standards

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 101.
View Official Source