Page 20 - Special District Handbook with Cover-Final

Step 1…WHO CAN FILE THE PETITION AND WHERE IS IT FILED?

• The petition shall be filed by the proponents.

• The petition, including all sections, must be filed with the district elections official within 180 days from the date of publication or posting, or both, of

the Notice of Intention and Statement of Reasons. Elec. Code § 9306

STEP 2…MEETING THE DEADLINE

• The petitions must be filed during normal business hours.

• All sections of the petition must be filed at the same time and may not be amended or supplemented except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Any sections not so filed shall be void for all purposes. Elec. Code § 9306

STEP 3…EXAMINATION BY THE DISTRICT ELECTIONS OFFICIAL • The district elections official will ask the filer to provide the number of sections (pages in a single petition) and number of signatures. It is recommended that the petitions be separated in stacks reflecting the number of signers on each section (all sections with one signature in one stack, all with two signatures in another stack, etc.).

• This process assists the district elections official to determine whether the number of signatures, on its face, is equal to or is in excess of the minimum number of signatures required. If the number of signatures appears to be equal or greater than the number required, the district elections official shall accept the petition for filing.

• The district elections official will provide the proponents with the deadline for the verification of signatures (30 days from the date of filing, excluding

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). Elec. Code §§ 9308, 9309 • The district elections official may contract-out the process of verification of signatures. If this is the case, the initiative petition is filed with the district elections official and the deadline for the signature verification remains the same (30 days from the date of filing with the district elections official, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).