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HomeElections CodeDiv. 9Ch. 3Art. 3§ 9255 Charter Commission Voter Submission

§ 9255 Charter Commission Voter Submission

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

§ 9255 Charter Commission Voter Submission

Key Takeaways

  • •If a group wants to change a city's rules (charter), they must ask voters during a big election day.
  • •The group must ask at least 88 or 95 days before the election, depending on who is asking.
  • •If regular people (15% of voters in a city or 10% in a city and county) sign a paper asking for a rule change, the city must let everyone vote on it.
  • •The city can count how many voters there are using the last official report before they tell people about the vote.

Example

A group of people in a town want to change how the town picks its mayor. They get 15% of the town's voters to sign a paper asking for this change.

The town must then let everyone vote on this change during the next big election day, as long as they ask at least 88 days before that election.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9255 Charter Commission Voter Submission

(a) A charter or charter amendment proposed by a charter commission, whether elected or appointed by a governing body, for a city or city and county shall be submitted to the voters at an established statewide general election pursuant to Section 1200, provided there are at least 95 days before the election. A charter commission may also submit a charter pursuant to Section 34455 of the Government Code. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1415, the following city or city and county charter proposals shall be submitted to the voters at an established statewide general election pursuant to Section 1200, provided there are at least 88 days before the election: (1) A proposal to adopt a charter, or an amendment or repeal of a charter, proposed by the governing body of a city or a city and county on its own motion. (2) A recodification of the charter proposed by the governing body on its own motion, provided that the recodification does not, in any manner, substantially change the provisions of the charter. (c) The following city or city and county charter proposals shall be submitted to the voters at an established statewide general, statewide primary, or regularly scheduled municipal election pursuant to Section 1200, 1201, or 1301 occurring not less than 88 days after the date of the order of election: (1) An amendment or repeal of a city charter proposed by a petition signed by 15 percent of the registered voters of the city. (2) An amendment or repeal of a city and county charter proposed by a petition signed by 10 percent of the registered voters of the city and county. (d) Charter proposals by the governing body and charter proposals by petition of the voters may be submitted at the same election. (e) The total number of registered voters of the city or city and county shall be determined according to the county elections official’s last official report of registration to the Secretary of State that was effective at the time the notice required pursuant to Section 9256 was given. (Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 184, Sec. 2. (SB 311) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

electionregistrationpetitionamendmentcommissionmotionportsecretary

Related Statutes

  • § 9215 Initiative Petition Requirements
  • § 11220 Recall Petition Filing Deadlines
  • § 17200 Petition Retention And Destruction
  • § 9266.5 Charter Amendment Withdrawal Deadline
  • § 9030 Petition Signature Filing Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 9255.
View Official Source