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HomeElections CodeDiv. 15Ch. 3Art. 1§ 15151 Election Results Reporting Requirements

§ 15151 Election Results Reporting Requirements

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

§ 15151 Election Results Reporting Requirements

This law says the person in charge of an election must send the early (semifinal) vote totals to the Secretary of State in the way and on the timetable the Secretary sets, and must keep sending updates at least every two hours once the count starts.

Key Takeaways

  • •The elections official must send semifinal results before each election, using the method and timing the Secretary of State tells them.
  • •The results must cover every statewide office, the state legislature, U.S. House, Board of Equalization, Court of Appeals, presidential primary or electors, and any statewide ballot measures.
  • •Updates must be sent at intervals of two hours or less after the semifinal count begins.

Example

After a county votes for governor, state legislators, and a ballot measure, the county elections clerk sends the first set of results to the Secretary of State and then sends a new update every two hours until the count is finished.

The clerk follows the schedule the Secretary gave, includes all the offices and measures listed in the law, and makes sure no more than two hours go by between each update.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 15151 Election Results Reporting Requirements

(a) The elections official shall transmit the semifinal official results to the Secretary of State in the manner and according to the schedule prescribed by the Secretary of State prior to each election, for the following: (1) All candidates voted for statewide office. (2) All candidates voted for the following offices: (A) State Assembly. (B) State Senate. (C) Member of the United States House of Representatives. (D) Member of the State Board of Equalization. (E) Justice of the Court of Appeals. (3) All persons voted for at the presidential primary or for electors of President and Vice President of the United States. (4) Statewide ballot measures. (b) The elections official shall transmit the results to the Secretary of State at intervals no greater than two hours, following commencement of the semifinal official canvass. (Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 72, Sec. 4. Effective July 19, 2005.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

semifinal official resultsSecretary of Statestatewide officeState AssemblyState SenateMember of the United States House of RepresentativesMember of the State Board of EqualizationJustice of the Court of Appealspresidential primaryelectors of President and Vice Presidentstatewide ballot measuressemifinal official canvass

Related Statutes

  • § 14201 Spanish Ballot Facsimiles
  • § 15150 Semifinal Election Canvass
  • § 15153 Semifinal Write-In Vote Count
  • § 19200 Voting System Approval Requirements
  • § 19201 Voting System Conditional Approval

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 15151.
View Official Source