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AB-1626 Election materials: public examination: writ of mandate: elections official.(2011-2012)

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Assembly Bill No. 1626
CHAPTER 191

An act to amend Sections 9380 and 9509 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.

[ Approved by Governor  August 27, 2012. Filed with Secretary of State  August 27, 2012. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1626, Yamada. Election materials: public examination: writ of mandate: elections official.
Existing law requires the elections official administering a county, municipal, district, or school district election to make a copy of certain election materials available for public examination in his or her office for a period of 10 calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. It permits any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, during that 10-calendar-day public examination period, to seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring the amendment or deletion of any or all of the materials. In the case of county and municipal elections, existing law also permits the elections official, himself or herself, to seek the above-described writ of mandate or injunction, as specified.
This bill would also authorize the elections official to seek the above-described writ of mandate or injunction in the context of a district or school district election.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 9380 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9380.
 (a) The elections official shall make a copy of the materials referred to in Sections 9312, 9315, and 9317 available for public examination in his or her office for a period of 10 calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. Any person may obtain a copy of the materials from the elections official for use outside of the elections official’s office. The elections official may charge a fee to any person obtaining a copy of the material. The fee may not exceed the actual cost incurred by the elections official in providing the copy.
(b) (1) During the 10-calendar-day public examination period provided by this section, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or the elections official, himself or herself, may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any material to be amended or deleted. The writ of mandate or injunction request shall be filed no later than the end of the 10-calendar-day public examination period.
(2) A peremptory writ of mandate or an injunction shall be issued only upon clear and convincing proof that the material in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with this chapter, and that issuance of the writ or injunction will not substantially interfere with the printing or distribution of official election materials as provided by law.
(3) The elections official shall be named as respondent and the person or official who authored the material in question shall be named as real parties in interest. In the case of the elections official bringing the mandamus or injunctive action, the board of supervisors of the county shall be named as the respondent and the person or official who authored the material in question shall be named as the real party in interest.

SEC. 2.

 Section 9509 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9509.
 (a) The elections official shall make a copy of the materials referred to in Sections 9500, 9501, and 9504 available for public examination in his or her office for a period of 10 calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. Any person may obtain a copy of the materials from the elections official for use outside of the elections official’s office. The elections official may charge a fee to any person obtaining a copy of the material. The fee may not exceed the actual cost incurred by the elections official in providing the copy.
(b) (1) During the 10-calendar-day public examination period provided by this section, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or the elections official, himself or herself, may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the materials to be amended or deleted. The writ of mandate or injunction request shall be filed no later than the end of the 10-calendar-day public examination period.
(2) A peremptory writ of mandate or an injunction shall be issued only upon clear and convincing proof that the material in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with this chapter, and that issuance of the writ or injunction will not substantially interfere with the printing or distribution of official election materials as provided by law.
(3) The elections official shall be named as respondent and the person or official who authored the material in question shall be named as real parties in interest. In the case of the elections official bringing the mandamus or injunctive action, the board of supervisors of the county shall be named as the respondent and the person or official who authored the material in question shall be named as the real party in interest.