Elections: county officers: consolidation with statewide elections.

(1) Existing law requires a candidate for a nonpartisan office who at a primary election receives votes on a majority of all the ballots cast for candidates for that office to be elected to that office. This bill would exempt from that requirement candidates for county nonpartisan offices, including a county office in a charter county, but not a charter city and county, and would require the candidates who received the highest and second highest number of votes cast for nomination to that office to be placed on the ballot at the ensuing general election. By imposing new duties on counties, including county elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law generally requires that a plurality of the votes given at any election constitutes a choice, but that it shall be competent in all charters of cities, counties, or cities and counties framed under the authority of the California Constitution to provide the manner in which their respective elective officers may be elected and to prescribe a higher proportion of the vote therefor. Existing law authorizes, and in some circumstances requires, a political subdivision to consolidate its elections with statewide elections. This bill would require an election for an office that is determined by the plurality of the votes cast for that office, with no possibility of a runoff, that is consolidated with a statewide election to be consolidated with the statewide general election in November. The bill would require an election for an office that is determined by the plurality of the votes cast for that office, with no possibility of a runoff, that is, as of January 1, 2021, consolidated with the statewide direct primary election, to instead be moved to and consolidated with the November statewide general election. These requirements would not apply to a charter city or charter city and county, but would apply to a charter county. By imposing new duties on local government, including county elections officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.