§ 11652 District Formation Approval Rules

This law says a new district can only be created if most voters in each area that wants it approve it, and the total number of approving voters must be at least two‑thirds of all registered voters in the whole proposed district.

Key Takeaways

•A majority of voters in each approving area must say yes.
•The total yes votes must be at least two‑thirds of all registered voters in the proposed district.
•If the 2/3 threshold isn’t reached, the district cannot be formed.

Example

A county wants to form a special water district that includes several unincorporated parcels and some public agencies. Voters in each area cast ballots on whether to join the district.

If a majority in every approving area votes yes, and the total number of yes votes is at least two‑thirds of all registered voters across the entire proposed district, the district is officially created. If the 2/3 threshold isn’t met, the district cannot be established.

How to Calculate

Approving voters ≥ (2/3) × Total registered voters

Count the total number of registered voters in the proposed district.
Multiply that total by 2/3 to get the required minimum number of approving votes.
Count how many of those registered voters actually voted in favor of the district.
Compare the approving count to the minimum; if it meets or exceeds it, the condition is satisfied.

The proposed district has 300 registered voters.

Result: 210 ≥ 200, so the 2/3 threshold is met and the district can be created.

(a) The board of supervisors shall canvass, separately, the returns of each public agency and each parcel of unincorporated territory, if any. (b) Subject to subdivision (c), the board of supervisors shall declare a district created and established of those public agencies and parcels of unincorporated territory in which a majority of those persons who voted did so in favor of the creation of the district. Those public agencies and parcels of unincorporated territory in which a majority of those persons voting did not vote in favor of the creation of the district shall be excluded from the district. (c) A district may be created and established pursuant to subdivision (b) only if the number of registered voters in the approving public agencies and parcels of unincorporated territory is two-thirds or more of the total number of registered voters within the district as proposed to the voters. (Amended by Stats. 2001, 2nd Ex. Sess., Ch. 18, Sec. 1. Effective August 8, 2002.)

Key Takeaways

•A majority of voters in each approving area must say yes.
•The total yes votes must be at least two‑thirds of all registered voters in the proposed district.
•If the 2/3 threshold isn’t reached, the district cannot be formed.

Example

A county wants to form a special water district that includes several unincorporated parcels and some public agencies. Voters in each area cast ballots on whether to join the district.

How to Calculate

Approving voters ≥ (2/3) × Total registered voters

Count the total number of registered voters in the proposed district.
Multiply that total by 2/3 to get the required minimum number of approving votes.
Count how many of those registered voters actually voted in favor of the district.
Compare the approving count to the minimum; if it meets or exceeds it, the condition is satisfied.

The proposed district has 300 registered voters.

Result: 210 ≥ 200, so the 2/3 threshold is met and the district can be created.

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

§ 11652 District Formation Approval Rules

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References