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HomeElections CodeDiv. 11Ch. 3Art. 2§ 11224 Petition Signature Verification

§ 11224 Petition Signature Verification

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

§ 11224 Petition Signature Verification

This law tells the elections official to check a petition’s signatures within 30 days (not counting weekends or holidays) and say whether it has enough valid signatures.

Key Takeaways

  • •The check must be done within 30 days, not counting weekends or holidays.
  • •The official compares signatures to voter registration records and can use copies of signatures if the copies follow the law.
  • •A certificate showing the result must be attached to the petition and the people who filed it must be notified.
  • •If the petition is good, the official also reports the result to the governing board at its next regular meeting.

Example

A neighborhood group gathers signatures to put a new park rule on the ballot. They turn the petition in to the elections office.

The elections official has 30 days (skipping Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to compare the names on the petition to the voter list. If enough signatures match, they write a certificate saying the petition is good and tell the group. If not enough match, they write a certificate saying it’s not good and tell the group. If it’s good, they also let the city’s governing board know at the next regular meeting.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 11224 Petition Signature Verification

(a) Except as provided in Section 11225, within 30 days from the date of filing of the petition, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the elections official shall examine the petition, and from the records of registration, ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by the requisite number of voters. If the elections official’s examination shows that the number of valid signatures is greater than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be sufficient. If the number of valid signatures is less than the required number, the elections official shall certify the petition to be insufficient. (b) In determining the number of valid signatures, the elections official may check the signatures against facsimiles of voters’ signatures, provided that the method of preparing and displaying the facsimiles complies with law. (c) The elections official shall attach to the petition a certificate showing the result of this examination, and shall notify the proponents of either the sufficiency or insufficiency of the petition. (d) If the petition is found sufficient, the elections official shall certify the results of the examination to the governing board at its next regular meeting. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 81. (AB 1020) Effective January 1, 2016. Operative September 26, 2016, when the Secretary of State issued the certification prescribed by Stats. 2015, Ch. 728, Sec. 88.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

petitionvalid signatureselections officialcertifygoverning board

Related Statutes

  • § 11222 Petition Filing Requirements
  • § 11223 Recall Petition County Certification
  • § 15205 Ballot Counter Qualifications
  • § 11220 Recall Petition Filing Deadlines
  • § 11225 Signature Verification Sampling

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 11224.
View Official Source