Primary elections: withdrawal of candidacy.

Existing law provides deadlines for candidates at a primary election to deliver or file their nomination documents. Existing law generally requires a candidate to deliver their nomination documents to the county elections official no later than 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the primary election. Existing law provides an exception for specified state offices and for the offices of Member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator, whereby if the incumbent of one of those offices does not deliver nomination documents by 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the primary election, a person other than the incumbent may file nomination documents for that office until 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before the primary election. Existing law prohibits a candidate whose declaration of candidacy has been filed for a primary election to withdraw as a candidate at that primary election. This bill would permit a candidate whose declaration of candidacy has been filed for a primary election to withdraw their candidacy until 5 p.m. on the final day that nomination documents may be delivered or filed for that office at the primary election. The bill would also make conforming changes. By increasing the duties of local elections officials regarding the nomination of candidates for the primary election, the bill would create 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.