Presidential elections: candidate qualifications.

Existing law prescribes specific procedures by which political parties participate in the presidential primary, and it defines the role of the Secretary of State in overseeing the primary and general elections and the meeting of presidential electors. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to cause the names of the political parties' candidates for President and Vice President to be placed on the general election ballot after receiving from each party its certified list of nominees for electors, as specified. Existing law, including the United States Constitution, governs the qualifications of candidates for elective office, including the office of President of the United States. This bill would require the Secretary of State, before placing the name of a candidate for President or Vice President on the ballot for the general election, to determine whether the candidate satisfies the qualifications for the office described in the United States Constitution. The bill would prohibit the Secretary of State from placing on the ballot the name of any candidate who the Secretary of State determines is not eligible in accordance with these provisions. The bill would authorize a voter or candidate to challenge this determination by the Secretary of State in accordance with specified procedures. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.