Presidential general elections: party qualifications.

Existing law establishes qualifications that a new political party must satisfy in order to participate in a primary election. Existing law provides that a new party qualifies to participate in a primary election if, on or before the 135th day before the primary election, it appears to the Secretary of State, after examining the statement of voters transmitted by county elections officials, that at least 1% of the entire vote of the state at the preceding gubernatorial election has declared an intention to affiliate with the party or if a petition to participate in the primary election is filed with the Secretary of State, signed by voters numbering at least 10% of the entire vote of the state at the preceding gubernatorial election declaring that they represent the proposed party and desire to participate in the primary election. Under existing law, a political party must participate in the primary election in order for a candidate for partisan office to have his or her name appear on the general election ballot with that party's designation. This bill would establish requirements for a political body that did not qualify to participate in a presidential primary election but nevertheless seeks to participate in the presidential general election following that primary election, including having candidates for President and Vice President of the United States nominated by the party appear on the presidential general election ballot. The bill would provide that a new party is qualified to participate in a presidential general election if it is able to satisfy the above-mentioned voter registration or petition signature requirements on or before the 102nd day or the 135th day, as specified, preceding the general election. Existing law requires each county elections official to send the Secretary of State, at prescribed times, a summary of the statement of the number of voters in the county, including the number registered as affiliated with each qualified or nonqualified party. This bill would require each county elections official to send the Secretary of State an additional summary statement of the voters in the county not less than 102 days prior to the presidential general election, with respect to voters registered before the 123rd day before the presidential general election. By imposing new duties or a higher level of service on county elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also make conforming changes. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.