Page 9 - Special District Handbook with Cover-Final

PHASE 1 -- GETTING STARTED

STEP 1…BE PREPARED!

• The district elections official can provide you with helpful information to assist you in understanding the steps necessary to initiate, circulate, and file special district initiative petitions.

• Become familiar with the process by reading this handbook, Elections Code sections 9300 through 9405, Proposition 218, and calling the district election official, if you have specific questions.

All parties involved in a special district initiative petition process are advised to seek legal counsel. It is incumbent upon proponents to follow the

petition process as directed in the Elections Code.

STEP 2…PREPARATION AND PUBLICATION/POSTING OF NOTICE OF INTENTION

• The special district initiative process begins by the proponents of the measure publishing a Notice of Intention to circulate an initiative petition. Exhibit B, page 29, of this handbook, is an example of the Notice of Intention.

• The Notice of Intention shall be accompanied by a printed statement stating the reasons for the proposed petition. The printed statement shall not exceed 500 words. The notice shall be signed by at least one, but not more than five, proponents, and shall be in substantially the following form:

“Notice of Intention to Circulate Initiative Petition:

Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their intention to circulate the petition within the County of Orange for the purpose of ( insert purpose of measure ). A Statement of the Reasons of the proposed action as contemplated in the petition is as follows:”

Elec. Code § 9302

4