Section 7: November 4, 2014, General Election Calendar

$5,000 Report (Electronic Filers Only)

Candidates for state office and their controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose state measures must file a disclosure report within 10 business days if $5,000 or more is received from a single source outside the 90-day election cycle.

Recipient committees must file a disclosure report within 10 business days of making a contribution of $5,000 or more or an independent expenditure of $5,000 or more to support or oppose the qualification or passage of a single state ballot measure.

NOTE: The filing period for this report begins the day following the primary election; however, for purposes of this calendar the E-date shall begin at E-158.

Governor's Proclamation — Issuance

By this date, the Governor shall issue a proclamation calling the general election and shall state the time of the election and the offices to be filled and transmit a copy of the proclamation to the board of supervisors of each county. The Secretary of State will send an informational copy of the proclamation to each county elections official.

Initiative Measure Qualification Deadline

Last day for an initiative measure to qualify for the general election ballot.

Candidate Statements in the State Voter Information Guide — Statewide Constitutional Office

Period in which statewide constitutional office candidates may purchase a space for a 250-word candidate statement in the official state voter information guide. Candidates for statewide constitutional office may purchase space for a candidate statement only if they have agreed to voluntary expenditure limits.

Statewide Ballot Measures — Ballot Label and Title and Summary Deadline

The Attorney General is asked to provide, no later than this date, all official ballot labels and titles and summaries for the statewide ballot measures that have qualified for the general election so that the Secretary of State has sufficient time to translate the ballot labels and titles and summaries into any required languages prior to public display of the state Voter Information Guide.

Statewide Ballot Measures — Argument Submission Deadline

Last day for the submittal to the Secretary of State of arguments for or against each qualified statewide ballot measure. Arguments shall not exceed 500 words. Once submitted, no argument may be changed or amended.

Candidate Statements in the County Official Sample Ballot

Period in which candidates for United States House of Representatives and State Senate and Assembly may purchase space for a 250-word candidate statement in the voter information portion of the official sample ballot(s) of the county or counties in their jurisdiction. Candidates for State Senate and Assembly may purchase space for a candidate statement only if they have agreed to voluntary expenditure limits.

Candidate Statements in the State Voter Information Guide Deadline — Supreme Court Justice

Last day a California Supreme Court Justice who must stand for retention at the general election may submit a 250-word candidate statement in the official state Voter Information Guide.

Political Party Statement of Purpose Deadline

Last day for political parties to submit statements of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, for inclusion in the state Voter Information Guide.

Declaration of Candidacy — Supreme and Appellate Courts

Period in which a Justice of the Supreme or Appellate Court, who must stand for retention at the general election, may file a declaration of candidacy with the Secretary of State. The nonrefundable filing fee must be paid at the time the declaration of candidacy is filed.

Change of Candidate's Designation on Ballot

Last day that any candidate may request in writing a different ballot designation than that used at the primary election. The written request shall be accompanied by a ballot designation worksheet. This request should be made to both the Secretary of State and the county elections official.

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report

Last day to file supplemental independent expenditure reports (SIER). These reports disclose independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure/measure qualification. SIER are to be filed at the same time and in the same places as would be required if the filer were primarily formed to support or oppose the candidate, measure, or measure qualification affected by the independent expenditure.

Candidates may make independent expenditures using their personal funds to support or oppose other candidates. Candidates and controlled committees cannot make independent expenditures using campaign funds to support or oppose other candidates but can use campaign funds to support or oppose a measure

Randomized Alphabet Drawing — Notice

Last day for the Secretary of State to notify the news media and other interested parties of the place of the randomized alphabet drawing to be held at 11:00 a.m. on August 14, 2014 (E-82).

Election Cycle Reports — 24-hr. Payment Report (Slate Mailer Organizations)

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election, each slate mailer organization that receives a payment of $2,500 or more for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate or measure in a slate mailer must report the payment within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office by online or electronic transmission only. (Deadlines are extended to the next business day when they fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or an official state holiday, except for the weekend before an election.) Such payments may be reported on Slate Mailer Late Payment Report (Form 498).

Election Cycle Reports — 24-hr. Independent Expenditure Report

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election and including election day, all candidates and committees that make an independent expenditure of $1,000 or more to support or oppose a single candidate for elective state office or a single state ballot measure must report the expenditure within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office by online or electronic transmission only. For independent expenditures made in connection with a CalPERS or CalSTRS election, a copy must also be filed with the relevant board office. (Deadlines for 24-hour reporting of independent contributions which fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or an official state holiday are NOT extended to the next business day.) Such independent expenditure reports may be reported on an Independent Expenditure Report (Form 496).

Signatures In-Lieu of Filing Fees — Supreme and Appellate Courts — Determine Sufficiency

Last day for the county elections official to determine the sufficiency of the in-lieu signatures submitted by a Justice of the Supreme or Appellate Court. If the county elections official determines that the petition is deficient, the county elections official shall notify the candidate of such deficiency within ten days of the petition having been left for examination. Such candidates may, before the close of the nomination period, either submit a supplemental petition or pay a prorated fee to cover the deficiency.

Political Party Endorsements

Last day for any qualified political party to submit to the county elections official a list of all candidates for voter-nominated office who will appear on any ballot in the county in question, and who have been endorsed by the party. The county elections official shall print any such list that is timely received in the official sample ballot.

Declaration of Candidacy — Supreme and Appellate Courts — Filing Deadline

Last day for a Justice of the Supreme or Appellate Court, who must stand for retention at the general election, to file with the Secretary of State a declaration of candidacy and pay the nonrefundable filing fee.

Notice to Candidates

On or before this day the Secretary of State shall notify each candidate for voter-nominated office of the names, addresses, offices, ballot designations, and party preferences of all other persons whose names are to appear on the general election ballot.

Death of a Candidate for Nonpartisan office — Name on Ballot

Last day for the county elections official to remove the name of a deceased candidate for nonpartisan office from the general election ballot.

Voter Registration File Update for State Voter Information Guide Mailing

Counties using data processing equipment to store registered voter information set forth in the affidavits of registration shall begin their computer updates in order to send a copy of their registered voter load files to the Secretary of State by September 15, 2014 (E-50).

Report of Registration — 60-Day County Report

Period in which county elections officials shall send to the Secretary of State a summary statement showing the number of registered voters in their counties, by political party preference and each political subdivision thereof. This statement is based on the number of persons registered as of September 5, 2014 (E-60).

Voter Registration Files to the Secretary of State for State Voter Information Guide Mailing

Last day for county elections officials to send the Secretary of State a copy of their load files of all voters registered as of September 5, 2014 (E-60).

Candidate Nomination —Supreme and Appellate Courts

Last day for the Governor to nominate a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court or Justice of the Court of Appeal when an incumbent justice who was to have stood for confirmation at the general election did not file his or her declaration of candidacy with the Secretary of State.

State Voter Information Guides Furnished to Counties

By this date, the Secretary of State shall furnish copies of the state Voter Information Guide to those counties that do not use data processing equipment to maintain their registered voter files. State Voter Information Guides will also be sent to all counties for their supplemental mailings to persons who register between Saturday, September 6, 2014 (E-59) and October 6, 2014 (E-29).

Issue Advocacy Report (Electronic Filers Only)

A disclosure report must be filed within 48 hours by anyone spending or promising to pay $50,000 or more for a communication disseminated, broadcast or otherwise published within 45 days of an election, if the communication clearly identifies a candidate for state elective office but does not expressly advocate the election or defeat of that candidate.

State Voter Information Guide Mailing

Period in which the Secretary of State shall mail state Voter Information Guides to all households in which voters were registered by September 5, 2014 (E-60). This mailing is based on the voter registration files provided by county elections officials to the Secretary of State by Saturday, September 15, 2014 (E-50).

In those counties in which such data processing equipment is not used, the county elections official shall mail the state Voter Information Guides to all voters registered by September 5, 2014 (E-60).

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report

Last day to file supplemental independent expenditure reports (SIER). These reports disclose independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate or measure/measure qualification. SIER are to be filed at the same time and in the same places as would be required if the filer were primarily formed to support or oppose the candidate, measure, or measure qualification affected by the independent expenditure.

Candidates may make independent expenditures using their personal funds to support or oppose other candidates. Candidates and controlled committees cannot make independent expenditures using campaign funds to support or oppose other candidates but can use campaign funds to support or oppose a measure.

Precinct Board Members and Polling Places

Last day for the county elections official to appoint the members of the several precinct boards and designate the polling places.

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application for Out-of-State Emergency Workers

Period within which, upon the declaration of an out-of-state emergency by the Governor and the issuance of an executive order authorizing an out-of-state emergency worker to cast a ballot outside of his or her home precinct, an out-of-state emergency worker may request and vote a vote-by-mail ballot, which must be delivered to the elections official by mail or by hand, on or before the close of polls on Elections Day.

Sample Ballots — County Mailing

Last day for the county elections official to mail sample ballots to voters.

24-Hour Statement of Organization Filing Requirement — Recipient Committees and Slate Mailer Organizations

A recipient committee or slate mailer organization that qualifies during the 16 days prior to an election in which it must file pre-election statements must file a Statement of Organization Recipient Committee (Form 410) within 24 hours of qualification with the filing officer who will receive the committee's original disclosure statements. by personal delivery, facsimile transmission, or guaranteed overnight delivery.

Notice of Change of Address Within County

Last day before the primary election for any voter to send a notice or letter advising the county elections official of a change of address within the county. The notice or letter shall be mailed (postmarked by this date) or delivered to the county elections official by this date and is effective upon receipt. The notice or letter may also be submitted to the Department of Motor Vehicles or any National Voter Registration Act designated agency prior to the election. The county elections official shall correct the registration records accordingly. The notice or letter is in lieu of re-registering.

Statement of Write-In Candidacy and Nomination Papers — Nonpartisan Office

Last day for nonpartisan write-in candidates to leave their statements of write-in candidacy and nomination papers with the county elections official for filing with the Secretary of State, if no candidate has been elected to a nonpartisan office at the primary election.

New Citizen Registration Period

A new citizen is eligible to register and vote at the office of, or at another location designated by, the county elections official at any time beginning on October 21, 2014 (E-14) and ending at the close of polls on November 4, 2014 (E).

A new citizen registering to vote after the close of registration shall provide the county elections official with proof of citizenship prior to voting and shall declare that he or she has established residency in California.

The ballots of new citizens shall be received and canvassed at the same time and under the same procedure as vote-by-mail ballots.

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report

Last day to file supplemental independent expenditure reports (SIER). These reports disclose independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate, a measure, or qualification of a measure. SIER are to be filed at the same time and in the same places as would be required if the filer were primarily formed to support or oppose the candidate, measure, or measure qualification affected by the independent expenditure.

Candidates may make independent expenditures using their personal funds to support or oppose other candidates. Candidates and controlled committees cannot make independent expenditures using campaign funds to support or oppose other candidates but can use campaign funds to support or oppose a measure.

Computer Processing of Vote-By-Mail Ballots

Counties having the necessary computer capability may begin to process their vote-by-mail ballots on this date. This process may be completed to the point of placing the ballot information on a computer medium, but under NO circumstance may a vote count be accessed or released until 8:00 p.m. on November 4, 2014 (E).

All other county elections officials shall start to process vote-by-mail ballots at 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.

State Voter Information Guide Supplemental Mailing by County

Last day for county elections officials to mail state Voter Information Guides to voters who registered between Saturday, September 6, 2014 (E-59) and October 6, 2014 (E-29), inclusive.

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Application

Last day for the county elections official to receive any voter's application for a vote-by-mail ballot and to issue such ballot for the general election.

See Items #80 and #81 for exceptions.

Military or Overseas Voter — Recalled to Military Service

A registered military of overseas voter recalled to service after October 28, 2014 (E-7), but before 5:00 p.m. on November 3, 2014 (E-1), may appear before the county elections official in the county in which the military or overseas voter is registered or, if within the state, in the county in which he or she is recalled to service and apply for a vote-by-mail ballot which may be transmitted to the voter by facsimile, email, or online transmission if the elections official makes the transmission option available.

The vote-by-mail ballot may be voted in, or outside, the elections official's office on or before the close of the polls on Election Day and returned as are other vote-by-mail ballots. To be counted, the ballot must be returned to the elections official's office in person, by facsimile transmission, or by an authorized person on or before the close of the polls on Election Day.

If the military or overseas voter appears in the county in which he or she is recalled to service, rather than the county to which he or she is registered, the elections official shall coordinate with the elections official in the county in which the military or overseas voter is registered to provide the ballot that contains the appropriate measures and races for the precinct in which the military or overseas voter is registered.

Quarterly Statement by Ballot Measure Committees

Last day for committees that have qualified as a recipient committee and are primarily formed to support or oppose the qualification, passage, or defeat of any measure must file a quarterly campaign statement for the period July 1 through September 30, 2014, during any semiannual period before the election in which the measure is not being voted upon.

Manual Processing of Vote-By-Mail Ballots

Counties not having the necessary computer capability may begin to manually process vote-by-mail ballots at 5:00 p.m. on this date, but under NO circumstance may the vote count be accessed or released until 8:00 p.m. on November 4, 2014 (E).

Election Cycle Reports — 24-Hr. Payment Report (Slate Mailer Organizations)

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election, each slate mailer organization that receives a payment of $2,500 or more for the purpose of supporting or opposing any candidate or measure in a slate mailer must report the payment within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office by online or electronic transmission only. (Deadlines are extended to the next business day when they fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or an official state holiday, except for the weekend before an election.) Such payments may be reported on a Slate Mailer Late Payment Report (Form 498).

Election Cycle Reports — 24-Hr. Contribution Report

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election and including election day, the following contributions that total in the aggregate of $1,000 or more must be reported within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office by online or electronic transmission only: Contributions made to a candidate, officeholder, political party committee, or a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure; contributions received by a candidate, officeholder, a political party committee, a candidate in a CALPERS or CALSTRS election, or a committee primarily formed to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure. (Deadlines are extended to the next business day when they fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or an official state holiday, except for the weekend before an election.) Recipients of non-monetary or in-kind contributions must file within 48 hours of the date the contribution was received. Such contributions may be reported on a Contribution Report (Form 497).

Military or Overseas Voters

Last day an unregistered military or overseas voter who was released from service after October 20, 2014 (E-15), the close of registration, and who has returned to his or her county of residence may apply in person to register with the county elections official and vote in the election. Documentary proof of release from service is required. On or before the day of the election the county elections official shall deliver to the precinct board a list of military or overseas voters registered under Elections Code section 3108.

Any registered military or overseas voter who has returned to their county of registration on or before this day and to whom a vote-by-mail ballot has been mailed but not voted may apply for a second vote-by-mail ballot. The elections official shall require him or her to sign an authorization to cancel the vote-by-mail ballot previously issued and shall then issue another vote-by-mail ballot to the voter or certify to the precinct board that the voter is eligible to vote in the precinct polling place of his or her residence.

Last day a military or overseas voter who returns to the county after October 28, 2014 (E-7) may appear before the county elections official and make application for registration, a vote-by-mail ballot, or both. The county elections official shall register the voter, if not registered, and shall deliver a vote-by-mail ballot which may be voted in, or outside, the county elections official's office on or before the close of the polls on Election Day and returned as are other voted vote-by-mail ballots.

Request for Vote-By-Mail Ballots — Late Conditions

Last day any voter may request in writing a vote-by-mail ballot because of specified conditions resulting in his or her absence from the polling place or precinct on Election Day.

New Citizen Registration Period — Last Day

Last day a new citizen registering to vote after the close of registration can provide the county elections official with proof of citizenship prior to voting and declare that he or she has established residency in California.

The ballots of new citizens shall be received and canvassed at the same time and under the same procedure as vote-by-mail ballots.

$5,000 Report (Electionic Filers Only)

Candidates for state office and their controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose state measures must file a disclosure report within 10 business days if $5,000 or more is received from a single source outside the 90-day election cycle.

Provisional Ballots of Emergency Workers

On or before November 14, 2014 (E+10), if the Governor declares a state of emergency, a provisional ballot cast by an emergency worker outside of his or her home precinct must be received by the county elections official where the voter is registered. The elections official, in a county included in the executive order declaring the emergency, shall transmit for processing any ballot cast not later than the close of polls on Election Day by an emergency worker in a declared state of emergency, including any materials necessary to process the ballot, to the elections official in the county where the voter is registered to vote.

Official Canvass — End

No later than this date, the county elections official must complete the canvass, certify its results, and submit it to the board of supervisors.

This is also the suggested deadline for the board of supervisors to declare the winners for each office and the results of each measure under its jurisdiction. The county elections official shall make and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election.

Statement of Vote

Last day for the Secretary of State to prepare, certify, and file a statement of the vote from the compiled election returns.

$5,000 Report (Electionic Filers Only)

Candidates for state office and their controlled committees and committees primarily formed to support or oppose state measures must file a disclosure report within 10 business days if $5,000 or more is received from a single source outside the 90-day election cycle.

Supplemental Independent Expenditure Report

Last day to file supplemental independent expenditure reports (SIER). These reports disclose independent expenditures of $1,000 or more in a calendar year to support or oppose a candidate, a measure, or qualification of a measure. SIER are to be filed at the same time and in the same places as would be required if the filer were primarily formed to support or oppose the candidate, measure, or measure qualification affected by the independent expenditure.

Candidates may make independent expenditures using their personal funds to support or oppose other candidates. Candidates and controlled committees cannot make independent expenditures using campaign funds to support or oppose other candidates but can use campaign funds to support or oppose a measure.

Report of Registration — Odd-Numbered Year Statewide Report Published

On or before this date the Secretary of State will release a statewide report showing the number of registered voters, by political party preference, in the state, each county, and each political subdivision thereof. This report is based on the summary statements sent by each county elections official by February 27, 2015 (E+115).