Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 11345 CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK June 15, 2020 The Honorable City Council Palo Alto, California Informational Report Regarding the November 3, 2020 General Municipal Election, Related Schedules, Fees, and Length of Candidate Statements This is an informational report. The City Clerk is required to bring a report regarding specific deadlines for the November 3, 2020 election, fees and length of candidates' statements. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Filing Fee Pursuant to Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 2.40.030, filing of nomination petitions, "Any person otherwise qualified may be a candidate for an elective office at any election, regular or special, by filing with the clerk, within the time prescribed in the Elections Code of California, a petition signed by at least twenty-five qualified and registered voters. Any duly established candidacy filing fee shall be waived for each candidate who files a petition signed by at least four qualified or registered voters for each dollar of such filing fee." Palo Alto charges a fee of $25 for filing nomination papers. If a candidate wishes to waive the filing fee, the nomination petition would require 100 qualified registered voters' signatures. 2. Charges for Candidates' Statements California Elections Code Section 13307 provides that before the General Municipal Election nomination period opens, the City Council shall determine whether a charge is to be levied for printing and mailing candidates' statements in the sample ballot. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters has indicated that for this November General Municipal Election, the cost for a candidates' statement of 200 words is estimated to be $2,100. California Elections Code Section 13307 also permits the City Council to increase the number of words allowed in a candidate's statement from 200 to 400. The estimated cost for the candidate statement would then increase to $3,048. Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT As in past practice, unless a Council Member agendizes any of these items by June 22, 2020, the City Clerk's Office will charge no fee for candidates' statements of up to 200 words for the 2020 General Municipal Election and the City will absorb the cost. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT None. ATTACHMENTS: • Attachment A: Amended Abbreviated Primary General Election - November 3 2020 - rev. 04-08-20 (PDF) Department Head: Beth Minor, City Clerk Page 3 AMENDED ABBREVIATED PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION CALENDAR November 3, 2020 County of Santa Clara This calendar may not contain all candidate or district filing requirements. The Office of the Registrar of Voters is not open for filings on Saturday, Sunday or holidays. 1Refer to California Elections Code §§9190, 9295, 9380, 9509, 13313, and 13314 for details of public examination periods and writ of mandate. 2The period covered by any statement begins on the day after the closing date of the last statement filed, OR January 1st, if no previous statement has been filed. 3Date falls on a weekend or public holiday; deadlines move forward to the next business day. Revised 4/8/2020 DATES ACTIVITIES / DOCUMENTS July 1, 2020 (E-125) DUE DATE FOR RESOLUTIONS FOR GOVERNING BOARD ELECTIONS Last date for jurisdictions to submit resolutions for a governing board election. The ROV encourages jurisdictions to provide resolutions as early as possible. July 13, 2020 (E-113) NOMINATION PERIOD OPENS First day candidates may pick up nomination documents at the Office of the Registrar of Voters. July 28, 2020 (E-98) DUE DATE FOR RUN-OFF CANDIDATES TO REQUEST CHANGE TO BALLOT DESIGNATION Last day Run-Off candidates may request in writing a different ballot designation than that used at the primary election (For state offices, request should be made to both the Secretary of State, and the county elections official). July 31, 2020 (E-95) F.P.P.C. SEMI-ANNUAL STATEMENT DUE Deadline for semi-annual financial disclosure report Form 460 covering the period 1/1/20 to 6/30/20 or the day after the closing date of the last statement filed before 6/30/20. August 5, 2020-November 3, 2020 (E-90 to E) CONTRIBUTION / INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES Sums of $1,000 or more to/from a single source must be reported within 24 hours. The Independent Expenditure report is required only for committees (not candidate controlled) that make independent expenditures totaling $1,000 or more to support or oppose a single ballot measure or a single candidate. August 7, 2020 (E-88) 1NOMINATION PERIOD CLOSES Deadline to file (in the Office of the Registrar of Voters only) all required nomination documents. DUE DATE FOR RUNOFF CANDIDATES TO FILE THEIR STATEMENTS Deadline for runoff candidates to file their candidate statements to appear in the November 2020 County Voter Information Guide (CVIG). 1DUE DATE FOR MEASURE RESOLUTIONS AND TAX RATE STATEMENTS Deadline for jurisdictions to submit resolution calling for a measure election, and if applicable, tax rate statements. DUE DATE FOR PROPONENTS TO WITHDRAW AN INITIATIVE Deadline for proponents to withdraw an initiative that qualified for the ballot. AMENDED ABBREVIATED PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION CALENDAR November 3, 2020 County of Santa Clara This calendar may not contain all candidate or district filing requirements. The Office of the Registrar of Voters is not open for filings on Saturday, Sunday or holidays. 1Refer to California Elections Code §§9190, 9295, 9380, 9509, 13313, and 13314 for details of public examination periods and writ of mandate. 2The period covered by any statement begins on the day after the closing date of the last statement filed, OR January 1st, if no previous statement has been filed. 3Date falls on a weekend or public holiday; deadlines move forward to the next business day. Revised 4/8/2020 DATES ACTIVITIES / DOCUMENTS August 8, 2020- August 17, 2020 (E-87 to E-78) 1EXAMINATION PERIOD FOR ALL BALLOT DESIGNATIONS AND CANDIDATE STATEMENTS FOR THOSE CONTESTS NOT IN EXTENSION 10-calendar day public examination period immediately following the filing deadline of candidate statements when the statements and ballot designations may be reviewed for potential legal action. During this 10-calendar day examination period, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or any candidate may take legal action to challenge the contents of the statement or the ballot designations. August 8, 2019– August 12, 2019 (E-87 to E-83) 1EXTENSION PERIOD If the incumbent fails to file a Declaration of Candidacy by August 7, 2020 for his or her office, there will be a five calendar-day extension during which any candidate, other than the incumbent, may file for said office. August 11, 2020 (E-84) 1DUE DATE FOR ARGUMENTS Deadline set by the Registrar of Voters for submitting arguments in favor of and against a measure. August 12, 2020– August 21, 2019 (E-83 to E-74) 1EXAMINATION PERIOD FOR ALL ARGUMENTS FILED The elections official shall make the arguments available for public examination for a period of 10-calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. August 12, 2020 (E–83) LAST DAY TO REMOVE A LOCAL MEASURE FROM THE BALLOT Deadline to remove a local measure from the ballot. August 13, 2020– August 24, 2020 (E-82 to E-71) 1,3EXAMINATION PERIOD FOR ALL BALLOT DESIGNATIONS AND CANDIDATE STATEMENTS FOR THOSE CONTESTS IN EXTENSION 10-calendar day public examination period immediately following the filing deadline of candidate statements when the statements and ballot designations may be reviewed for potential legal action. During this 10-calendar day examination period, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or any candidate may take legal action to challenge the contents of the statement or ballot designations. August 13, 2020 (E-82) RANDOMIZED ALPHABET DRAWING This day the Secretary of State and the local elections official will conduct a drawing of letters of the alphabet to determine the order in which candidates appear on the ballot. AMENDED ABBREVIATED PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION CALENDAR November 3, 2020 County of Santa Clara This calendar may not contain all candidate or district filing requirements. The Office of the Registrar of Voters is not open for filings on Saturday, Sunday or holidays. 1Refer to California Elections Code §§9190, 9295, 9380, 9509, 13313, and 13314 for details of public examination periods and writ of mandate. 2The period covered by any statement begins on the day after the closing date of the last statement filed, OR January 1st, if no previous statement has been filed. 3Date falls on a weekend or public holiday; deadlines move forward to the next business day. Revised 4/8/2020 DATES ACTIVITIES / DOCUMENTS August 18, 2020 (E-77) 1DUE DATE FOR REBUTTALS AND IMPARTIAL ANALYSES Deadline set by the Registrar of Voters for submitting rebuttals to arguments in favor of and against a measure and impartial analyses. August 19, 2020– August 28, 2020 (E-76 to E-67) 1EXAMINATION PERIOD FOR ALL REBUTTALS AND IMPARTIAL ANALYSES FILED The elections official shall make the rebuttal arguments available for public examination for a period of 10-calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. August 28, 2019 (E-67) 1FINAL PRINTING DEADLINE Any petition for writ of mandate, including any appeals, should be resolved by this date so the Registrar of Voters can meet necessary election deadlines. 3September 8, 2020– October 20, 2020 (E-58 to E-14) WRITE-IN CANDIDACY OPENS AND CLOSES Time for write-in candidates to obtain and file write-in nomination documents in the Office of the Registrar of Voters for all contests. September 24, 2020 (E-40) F.P.P.C. 1ST PRE-ELECTION STATEMENT DUE Deadline for financial disclosure report Form 460 covering the period of 7/1/20 – 9/19/20. October 5, 2020 (E-29) FIRST DAY FOR MAILING OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS First day of mailing of Vote by Mail ballots. October 5, 2020– November 2, 2020 (E-29 to E-1) EARLY VOTING PERIOD AT THE ROV OFFICE Early voting is available at the Registrar of Voters Office during normal business hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., beginning 29 days before the election. October 20, 2020 (E-14) LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION Deadline to register to be eligible to vote in the November 3, 2020 Election. October 22, 2020 (E-12) F.P.P.C. 2ND PRE-ELECTION STATEMENT DUE Deadline for financial disclosure report Form 460 covering the period of 29/20/20 – 10/17/20. October 24, 2020– November 2, 2020 (E-10 to E-1) VOTE CENTERS OPEN 10 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY Vote Centers are open to all registered voters in Santa Clara County. Any voter can go to any Vote Center location throughout the County. Hours vary by location – please see listing on our website at sccvote.com. AMENDED ABBREVIATED PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION CALENDAR November 3, 2020 County of Santa Clara This calendar may not contain all candidate or district filing requirements. The Office of the Registrar of Voters is not open for filings on Saturday, Sunday or holidays. 1Refer to California Elections Code §§9190, 9295, 9380, 9509, 13313, and 13314 for details of public examination periods and writ of mandate. 2The period covered by any statement begins on the day after the closing date of the last statement filed, OR January 1st, if no previous statement has been filed. 3Date falls on a weekend or public holiday; deadlines move forward to the next business day. Revised 4/8/2020 DATES ACTIVITIES / DOCUMENTS October 27, 2020 (E-7) LAST DAY TO REQUEST VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT TO BE MAIL Deadline at 5:00 p.m. to submit a request for a Vote by Mail ballot to be mailed to voter. November 3, 2020 (E) ELECTION DAY All Vote Centers and ROV Office are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for voting. November 25, 2020 (E+22) LAST DAY ELECTIONS OFFICIAL TO NOTIFY VOTER OF VERIFICATION OF SIGNATURE In the case of a voter whose signatures do not match, the elections official is required to notify the voter, at least 8 days before the certification of the election, of an opportunity to verify the voter’s signature. December 1, 2020 (E+28) CERTIFICATION OF PRESIDENTIAL VOTES CAST TO SOS Last day for ROV to send to the Secretary of State one complete copy of the returns for all persons voted for at the presidential primary for delegates to the national conventions. December 1, 2020 (E+28) SIGNATURE VERIFICATION DATE Last day to turn in unsigned ballot or signature verification statements. December 3, 2020 (E+30) OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTE Registrar of Voters to certify election results by December 3, 2020. February 1, 2021 (E+90) F.P.P.C. SEMI-ANNUAL STATEMENT DUE Deadline for all committees to file a Form 460 covering the period 10/18/20 to 12/31/20 unless the committee filed termination Forms 410 and 460 before December 31, 2020.