§ 8203 Superior Court Judge Write-In Petition

Key Takeaways

•If only one judge is running for office and no one else files to run against them, their name won't be on the ballot unless at least 0.1% of voters (but no less than 100 and no more than 600) sign a petition to allow a write-in campaign.
•If enough voters sign the petition at least 83 days before the general election, the judge's name will be added to the ballot even if it wasn't there before.
•If no one signs the petition and the judge's name isn't on the ballot, the judge automatically wins on election day without needing a vote.

Example

Imagine only one judge, Judge Smith, is running for their job, and no one else signs up to run against them. Normally, Judge Smith's name wouldn't even be on the ballot.

But if at least 100 voters (or 0.1% of all voters, whichever is bigger, but no more than 600) sign a petition saying they want to write in another name, then Judge Smith's name gets put on the ballot. If no one signs the petition, Judge Smith automatically wins on election day without anyone voting.

(a) In any county in which only the incumbent has filed nomination papers for the office of superior court judge, his or her name shall not appear on the ballot unless there is filed with the elections official, within 10 days after the final date for filing nomination papers for the office, a petition indicating that a write-in campaign will be conducted for the office and signed by at least 0.1 percent of the registered voters qualified to vote with respect to the office, provided that the petition shall contain at least 100 signatures but need not contain more than 600 signatures. (b) If a petition indicating that a write-in campaign will be conducted for the office at the general election, signed by the number of registered voters qualified to vote with respect to the office specified in subdivision (a), is filed with the elections official not less than 83 days before the general election, the name of the incumbent shall be placed on the general election ballot if it has not appeared on the direct primary election ballot. (c) If, in conformity with this section, the name of the incumbent does not appear either on the primary ballot or general election ballot, the elections official, on the day of the general election, shall declare the incumbent reelected. Certificates of election specified in Section 15401 or 15504 shall not be issued to a person reelected pursuant to this section before the day of the general election. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 214, Sec. 1. (AB 362) Effective January 1, 2012.)

Key Takeaways

•If only one judge is running for office and no one else files to run against them, their name won't be on the ballot unless at least 0.1% of voters (but no less than 100 and no more than 600) sign a petition to allow a write-in campaign.
•If enough voters sign the petition at least 83 days before the general election, the judge's name will be added to the ballot even if it wasn't there before.
•If no one signs the petition and the judge's name isn't on the ballot, the judge automatically wins on election day without needing a vote.

Example

Imagine only one judge, Judge Smith, is running for their job, and no one else signs up to run against them. Normally, Judge Smith's name wouldn't even be on the ballot.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

§ 8203 Superior Court Judge Write-In Petition

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References