[FORMAT] Running for Office

[Andrew MeyerLevel 6 Administrator]

CITY GOVERNMENT
OF
LOS SANTOS

RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
&
ELECTION RELATED FILINGS

To File Election Papers in order to appear on a ballot for public office, please read the following information carefully and properly file your election papers using the formats provided. Should you fail to properly complete your election papers, you may not appear on the ballot when the election process begins.

Each Section will be denoted at folllows: (SECTION X.X - Name of Section)

For every section that contains the same prefixed number (i.e. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc...), that information should be contained in one singular post, when moving on to the next section(s) information (i.e. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3), that information should be in one singular post that replies to the first, and so on and so forth.

An example ballot can be found HERE.

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SECTION 1 - FIRST POST
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(SECTION 1.0 - NAME TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT)
The ballot name may be designated as follows:
-    First, middle and last names
-    Initials only and last name
-    A nickname may be included but must be in parentheses ( ) or quotation marks “ ”
-    A  short  version  of  the  first  name,  such  as  “Bill”  for  William,  “Dick”  for  Richard  or  “Kathy” for Kathleen

NO TITLES OR DEGREES ARE ALLOWED IN THE BALLOT NAME. (E.C. § 13106)

WITHIN  ONE  TERM  OF  ANY  ELECTION,  A  CHANGE  IN  LEGAL  NAME  SHALL  NOT  APPEAR  ON  THE  BALLOT  UNLESS  THE CHANGE  WAS  MADE  BY  MARRIAGE  OR  BY DECREE OF COURT.  (E.C. § 13104)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(SECTION 1.1 - SELECTING YOUR BALLOT DESIGNATION)

The ballot designation describes the current profession, vocation, occupation or incumbency status of the candidate that will appear on the ballot under the candidate’s name.

Ballot designations:
Can be no more than three words.
Becomes public record once the information is filed on the Declaration of Candidacy;

Ballot  designations  cannot  be  changed  after  the  final  date  to  file  nomination  documents.   Only  one  of  the  following  categories is allowed:

1) Elective Office Title: Words describing an elective office title may be used IF the candidate  holds  the  office  at  the  time  nomination  documents are filed and the office was filled by a vote of the people.
Example A:   Mayor
Example B:   Senator
Example C:   Assemblyman
Example D:   City Justice

2) Incumbent: The  word  Incumbent  may  be  used  IF  the  candidate  is  seeking  re-election to the same office and was elected to that office by a vote of the people or was appointed as a nominated candidate in lieu of an election.

3) Appointed  Incumbent:  The  words  Appointed  Incumbent  must  be  used  IF  the  candidate  was  appointed  to  the  office  (other  than  a  judicial  office)  and  is  seeking  election  to  that  office.  The  word  Appointed  may  also  be  used  with  the  office title.
               Example A:  Appointed Deputy-Mayor Incumbent  

Exception:   Candidates appointed to office  in  lieu  of  an  election  do  not  have  to  use the word appointed.

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(SECTION 1.2 - CANDIDATE BACKGROUND)

Principal  Occupation:  No  more  than  three  words  to  either  describe  the  current  principal  profession,  vocation,  or  occupation  of  the  candidate  or  the  principal  professions,  vocations,  or  occupations  of  the  candidate  during  the  calendar  year  immediately  preceding  the  filing  of  nomination  documents.  Geographical  names  are considered one word.

Example A: High School Teacher
Example B: Attorney/Educator/Trucker
Example C: CEO/Councilmember

No  Occupation  Desired:  If  no  ballot  designation  is  requested,  write  the  word  “NONE”.

REJECTION  OF  BALLOT  DESIGNATION  –  If  the  designation  is  in  violation  of  any  of  the  restrictions  set  forth  in  the  California  Elections  Code,  the  candidate  will  be  notified  by certified mail with a return receipt addressed to the mailing address appearing on the
candidate’s  ballot  designation  worksheet.  If  an alternative  designation  is  not  provided  within the time allowed, no designation will appear on the ballot. (E.C. § 13107(c))

UNACCEPTABLE  DESIGNATIONS  –  Pursuant  to  Elections  Code  §  13107(b),  the  elections official shall not accept a ballot designation if:
a. It would mislead the voter.
b. It  would  suggest  an  evaluation  of  a  candidate,  such  as  outstanding,  leading,  expert, virtuous, or eminent.
c. It abbreviates the word “retired” or places it following any word(s) that it modifies.
d. It includes a word or prefix, such as “former” or “ex-,” which means a prior status. The only exception is the use of the word “retired.”
e. It includes the name of any political party, whether or not it has qualified for the ballot.
f. It uses a word(s) referring to a racial, religious or ethnic group.
g. It refers to any activity that is prohibited by law.

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SECTION 2 - CANDIDATE STATEMENT
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San Andreas   law   permits   local   nonpartisan, legislative, judicial or executive candidates to  file  a  candidate  statement  to  be  printed  and  mailed  to  voters  in  the  Official  Sample  Ballot  Booklet.  Candidates  for  state  legislative  offices  who  voluntarily  choose  to  limit  their  campaign  expenditures  in  accordance  with  Proposition  34  by  appropriately filing a Fair Political Practices Commission “FPPC” Form 501 may submit a  candidate  statement.  

Filing  of  a  candidate  statement  is  not  mandatory,  but  is  permitted if the candidate desires to file and pay the appropriate fee. The word limit for a statement is 250 words. (Govt. Code § 85601)

STATE LAW PROVIDES THAT STATEMENTS MUST BE FILED NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. ON THE LAST DAY OF THE NOMINATION PERIOD.

1.  Statement is optional and may include the candidate’s age and occupation.
2.  Statements may not include references to other candidates.  
3.  No changes are allowed after statement is filed.
4.  No  reference   to   candidate’s   political   party   affiliation   or   any   partisan   political   membership or activity is permitted.
5.  If  candidate’s  name  does  not  appear  on  the  official  ballot,  the  candidate  is  not  entitled to a candidate statement in
the Official Sample Ballot Booklet

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SECTION 3 - PAPERWORK AND FEES
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(SECTION 3.0 - FEE SCHEDULE)
Declaration of Candidacy: $2,500 (REQUIRED)
Candidate Statement Fee: $500 (REQUIRED IF FILING A CANDIDATE STATEMENT, SEE SECTION 2)
Fees will be collected automatically once election papers are filed.

(SECTION 3.1 - DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FORM)
The following form MUST be completed and submitted with the other paperwork required for running for office. If this form is missing from a candidates filing, that candidate will not be eligible to appear on any ballots. An example of a completed version of this form can be found HERE.

NOTE: Only the information at the bottom of the form will be shared with the public/news media. Any information that you wish to keep private such as Street Address or telephone number can be left blank or private AT THE BOTTOM ONLY. THIS INFORMATION MUST BE COMPLETED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM.

DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY FORM

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