Primary elections: voter-nominated offices.

Existing provisions of the California Constitution provide that all voters may vote for any candidate at a voter-nominated primary election for congressional and state elective offices, without regard to the political party preference of the candidate or the voter. Pursuant to these provisions, the top 2 vote-getters in a voter-nominated primary election, regardless of party preference, compete in the ensuing general election. Existing law provides generally for the conduct of primary elections. Existing statutory law implements the above-mentioned constitutional provisions relating to voter-nominated primary elections for congressional and state elective offices, including the provision that the top 2 vote-getters compete in the general election, regardless of party preference. This bill would provide that a candidate for State Senator or Member of the Assembly who receives at least a majority of the votes cast for that office in the primary election shall be declared elected to that office, and that no general election would be held for that office. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill would specify that its provisions become operative only if SCA 14 of the 2013–14 Regular Session is approved by the voters.