Page 7 - Special District Handbook with Cover-Final

Proposition 218 The “Right to Vote on Taxes Act”, a California Constitutional Amendment passed by the voters in November of 1996, giving

voters the ability to repeal or reduce any existing local tax, assessment, or charge through the initiative process

Proposition 218

Random Signatures selected at random using a computerized Sample of random numbers generator -- The sample of signatures Signatures for verification is selected in such a manner that every

signature filed has an equal opportunity to be included in the sample

Raw Count The total number of unverified signatures affixed to a

petition and submitted to an elections official

Rebuttal Argument A document refuting a Direct Argument in Favor or a Direct Argument Against a measure being placed on the ballot

Elec. Code § 9317

Referendum A document protesting a legislative act to be presented to the

governing board and possibly to the voters of the jurisdiction

Elec. Code §§ 9144, 9340

Residence “Residence” for voting purposes means a person’s domicile --

The place in which his/her habitation is fixed, wherein, the person

has the intention of remaining, and to which, whenever he/she is absent, the person has the intention of returning -- At a given time, a person may have only one domicile Elec. Code § 349

Section of Page of a petition a Petition

Signature Comparing a person’s signature on a petition with the voter Verification registration records’ signature on file to determine if they match

Special Tax A tax whose revenues are used for specific purposes rather than

used for any governmental purpose

Legislative Analyst’s Office 12/96

Statement of A printed statement which accompanies the Notice of Intention Reasons stating why the proponents are circulating the petition

Elec. Code § 9302

Tax A charge on an individual or business that pays for governmental

services to facilities that benefit the public broadly -- Examples of taxes include the property tax, sales tax, business license tax, hotel occupancy tax, and utility users’ tax

Legislative Analyst’s Office 12/96

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