California Secretary of State - Elections & Voter Information - Elections division - Questions and Answers: Statewide Special Election

What are the issues to be decided on the special election ballot?
The special election is to determine whether Governor Gray Davis is recalled and, if so, who will succeed him.
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Is the recall of the Governor the only issue to be placed on the ballot?
No. Two statewide propositions will be on the ballot. Proposition 53 is a proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by the Legislature that would require a portion of the state's budget be set aside for infrastructure spending. Proposition 54 is a measure to ban government agencies from collecting racial data.
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What voting system does my county use?
Click here to view a county listing of voting systems that will be used for the October 7, 2003 Statewide Special Election.
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How do I use the voting system in my county?
Click here for instructions on how to use the voting system in your county.
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Who will be eligible to vote?
All California registered voters.
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When is the last day to register to vote?
Those who are not registered but are eligible will have through September 22nd to register.
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When will absentee voting begin in this statewide special election?
Absentee voting begins on September 8th.
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When is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot?
September 30th is the last day to apply for an absentee voter ballot by mail.
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What is the cost of the statewide special election?
According to information received from California's counties, the current estimated county cost of conducting the October 7, 2003 statewide special election is between $42 million and $55 million.

In addition, the state will incur costs of approximately $11 million to provide California's 15.3 million registered voters with the state voter information guide.

Therefore, the total estimated cost of the October 7, 2003 statewide special election is $53 million to $66 million.*

*The actual cost of the October 7, 2003 statewide special election is based on data supplied by California's 58 counties. Counties revised earlier cost estimates to reflect increased costs due to:

No consolidation of the October 7, 2003 statewide special election with the existing local elections scheduled for November 4, 2003.

Increased postage, staff overtime and printing costs, and other factors, resulting from a compressed election schedule.)
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Questions about Candidate Filing

Where can candidates pick up and return their election papers?
The nomination papers are available at the elections office in the county the candidate lives in. They must be filed in the same office not later than 5 p.m. August 9th.
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What are the requirements for an individual to declare his/her candidacy for the office of Governor?
All candidates for the office are required to first obtain 65-to-100 signatures of registered California voters on their nomination papers. Independent candidates must obtain signatures from registered voters who are not affiliated with a qualified political party. Partisan candidates must obtain signatures from members of their party.
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What is the filing fee for the candidates?
The non-refundable filing fee is $3,500 and must be paid when the candidate takes out nomination papers.
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Can candidates submit additional signatures in lieu of the filing fee requirement?
Yes. There are different signature number requirements for major Democratic/Republican and minor political party candidates as well as independents. Candidates that are from the two major political parties can avoid the cost of the filing fee by submitting 10,000 signatures from any registered voter.

Candidates from so-called minor political parties can avoid the filing fee cost by submitting 150 signatures from members of their own party. Independents or "decline to state" candidates may submit 10,000 signatures from registered voters who are not affiliated with a qualified political party.
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What is the deadline for a potential candidate to file nomination papers?
Candidacy documents must be filed no later than the 59th day before the election, which would be Saturday, August 9th.
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Where do potential candidates receive and file their candidacy paperwork?
They receive their paperwork from the individual 58 county election offices. They are required to file their nomination papers in the county where the candidate resides and votes.
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Can there be write-in candidates?
Yes. A candidate may run as a write-in by filing in the county of residence by September 23rd.
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When will the public know the complete list of candidates?
The Secretary of State will issue a "certified list" of candidates to all county election officials by the close of business on August 13th.
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Questions about Getting Voter Information

Will voters receive in the mail a statewide ballot pamphlet or voter information guide for the recall election?
Yes. This guide will be mailed to every household and will include information on the recall election. It will be mailed to about 11 million households in California no later than September 27th.
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What will appear in the ballot pamphlet?
The following items will be included in the ballot pamphlet:

Information on the recall process;

Statements by the recall proponents and the Governor;

A complete text of the two statewide ballot measures;

Arguments and rebuttals for and against the ballot measures;

An analysis of the two ballot measures by the Attorney General and the Legislative Analyst;

Candidate gubernatorial statements from those candidates who accept the contribution and expenditure limits of Proposition 34 and choose to purchase a statement; and

Additional materials the Secretary of State determines will make the election and ballot pamphlet easier to use.
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How many languages will the ballot pamphlet be published in?
The seven languages that the pamphlet will be published in are English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Tagalog.
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Questions about Campaign Finance Rules

Are there any spending limits for the committees that are supporting or opposing the recall effort?
No.
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Do candidates have to file a statement of economic interest?
Anyone running as a replacement candidate will have to file a statement of economic interest, listing investments, property and sources of income from the past year. This will need to be filed by August 9th.
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Will there be recall campaign contribution limits on gubernatorial candidates?
Yes. The candidates may accept only $21,200 from individuals and small contributor committees. There are, however, no limits on the amounts that candidates can provide to themselves.
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Are there expenditure limitations for gubernatorial candidates in this special recall election?
Yes, if the candidate has accepted the voluntary spending limits. The voluntary expenditure limitation is $10,624,000. If a candidate does not accept the voluntary spending limits then the candidate may spend whatever funds he/she wishes.
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What are the campaign reporting requirements for committees and individual candidates?
The first pre-election report covering July 1 through August 23rd is due August 28th. The second pre-election report covering August 24th through September 20th is due September 25th.
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When can the public examine these campaign statements?
All electronic filings are posted to the Cal-Access web site immediately upon receipt. (Candidates who have less than $50,000 in contributions/ expenditures will not have their data posted because they haven't met the minimum financial threshold.).
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