Elections: state and county voter information guides: judicial candidates.

The California Constitution provides that judges of the Supreme Court are elected at large and judges of courts of appeal are elected in their districts at general elections at the same time and places as the Governor. It also provides that judges of the superior court are elected in their counties at general elections except as otherwise necessary to meet the requirements of federal law. Under existing law, the Secretary of State is required to prepare a state voter information guide that contains, among other things, voluntary statements by candidates for statewide elective offices and, if the ballot contains a question on the confirmation or retention of a justice of the Supreme Court, information on the justice. In addition, if the ballot contains a question as to the confirmation of a justice to the Supreme Court or a court of appeal, the state voter information guide must contain a written explanation of the electoral procedure for these justices. The Secretary of State is required to mail the state voter information guide to each voter, as specified, and make it available online along with additional information. Existing law also requires local elections officials to prepare a county voter information guide that contains, among other things, voluntary statements by candidates for nonpartisan elective office. The local elections official is required to mail a county voter information guide to each voter in the county, as specified. In addition, if the local elections official permits the electronic distribution of candidate statements, each candidate for nonpartisan elective office may prepare a candidate statement to be posted on the internet website of the local elections official. This bill would require the Secretary of State, whenever the ballot contains a question as to the confirmation or retention of a justice of the Supreme Court or a court of appeal, to provide specified information about each justice in the state voter information guide. County elections officials would also be required to provide specified information about each candidate for judge of the superior court in the county voter information guide. The bill would grant the Secretary of State and county elections officials the discretion to only include the information regarding court of appeal justices and candidates for superior court judge in the online versions of the state and county voter information guides, as specified. By imposing additional duties on county elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.