Section 6: June 5, 2018, Primary Election Calendar

Signatures in Lieu of Filing Fees

Period in which candidates for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly may obtain forms from county elections officials for circulating petitions to secure signatures in lieu of all or part of the filing fee. Signatures may also be applied to the nomination signature requirements for the office.

Period in which statewide constitutional office candidates, who wish to purchase space for a 250-word candidate statement in the state Voter Information Guide, may accept the voluntary expenditure limits.

Verification of Independent Expenditures

The Verification of Independent Expenditures (Form 462) is used to identify an individual responsible for ensuring that the campaign committee’s independent expenditures were not coordinated with the listed candidate or the opponent or measure committee and that the committee will report all contributions and reimbursements as required by law. An independent expenditure is not subject to state or local contribution limits. This form must be emailed to the Fair Political Practices Commission within 10 days of an independent expenditure of $1,000 or more.⁵

NOTE: For purposes of this calendar the E-date shall begin at E-173.

Notice of Offices in the Primary Election

On or before this date, the Secretary of State shall prepare and send to each county elections official a notice designating all the offices, except for county officers and judges, for which candidates are to be nominated at the primary election.

Approved Ballot Card Vendors

On or before this date, the Secretary of State shall publish the list of approved manufacturers, finishers, and ballot on demand systems for use in California elections.

Report of Registration — 154-Day County Readiness

Period in which county elections officials shall notify the Secretary of State that voter registration information is available in the California Statewide Voter Registration Database (VoteCal) by indicating Report of Registration readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) with respect to voters registered as of January 2, 2018 (E-154).

Governor's Proclamation — Issuance

On or before this date, the Governor shall issue a proclamation calling the primary 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.

Report of Registration — 154-Day County Readiness Deadline

Deadline for county elections officials to indicate Report of Registration readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) of all voters registered as of January 2, 2018 (E-154).

Candidate Statements in the State Voter Information Guide - Statewide Constituational Office and United States Senator

Period in which statewide constitutional office and United States Senator candidates may purchase space for a 250-word statement in the official state Voter Information Guide. A candidate for statewide constitutional office may purchase space for a statement only if a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) has been filed and the candidate has agreed to accept the voluntary expenditure limits.

Campaign Statement — Semiannual

Last day to file semiannual campaign statements, if required, by all candidates, organizations, committees, and slate mailers.⁵

Statewide Ballot Measures — News Release Inviting Arguments

On or before this date, the Secretary of State will issue a general news release requesting voters to submit an argument in each case where either the argument for or against any ballot measure has not been prepared and filed.

Signatures in Lieu of Filing Fees Deadline

Last day for candidates for statewide constitutional offices, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly to submit their petitions to the county elections official of the county in which the petition signers reside and are registered to vote. Upon receipt of the required number of in-lieu signatures, or of a sufficient combination of such signatures and the prorated filing fee, the county elections official shall issue the nomination papers provisionally. Within 10 days after receipt of a petition, the county elections official shall notify the candidate of any deficiency. The candidate shall then, at the time of obtaining nomination documents, pay a pro rata portion of the filing fee to cover the deficiency. Any candidate who submits a number of valid in-lieu signatures that meets the nomination signatures requirement and equals or exceeds the minimum number required by Section 8062 for his or her nomination papers shall not be required to file the nomination papers.

Declaration of Candidacy and Nomination Papers

Period in which all candidates for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly must file a declaration of candidacy for office and ballot designation worksheet, and circulate nomination papers and deliver them to the county elections official for filing. All candidates must pay the nonrefundable filing fees or present petitions in lieu of signatures at the time nomination papers are issued by the county elections official. The number of valid signatures in lieu of the filing fee any candidate obtains may be subtracted from the number required for his or her nomination papers. A candidate shall not be required to execute a nomination paper if the number of signatures in lieu of the filing fee meets the requisite number of valid signatures under Section 8062. All nomination documents for the above-listed candidates must be left with the county elections official for filing with the Secretary of State.

Candidate Statements in the County Voter Information Guide

Period in which candidates for United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly may purchase space for a 250-word candidate statement in the county voter information guide of the county in their jurisdiction. In multi-jurisdictional contests, candidates must submit and purchase statements in each county in which they want their candidate statement to appear. Candidates for State Senator and Member of the State Assembly may purchase space for a candidate statement only if they have agreed to accept the voluntary expenditure limits on their Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501).

Candidate Intention Statement - Deadline if Purchasing Space for Candidate Statement in State Voter Information Guide

Last day for statewide constitutional office candidates to file the Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) agreeing to accept the voluntary expenditure limits in order to purchase space for a 250-word statement in the state Voter Information Guide.

Statewide Ballot Measures — Analysis, "Yes" and "No" Statements, Bond Statement, and Text Deadline

By this date, the Legislative Analyst and Legislative Counsel must provide all official analyses, “Yes” and “No” statements, and texts of the statewide ballot measures that have qualified for the primary election ballot, and a statement of bond debt, if necessary, so that the Secretary of State has sufficient time to prepare a copy for public examination and to translate the state Voter Information Guide into all required languages.

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, if space allows.

Newly Qualified Political Party Activities

Last day temporary officers of a newly qualified political party shall notify the Secretary of State of their operating procedures. If the newly qualified political party has not adopted its own detailed statutory operating procedures, it shall adopt the statutory provisions of any other qualified political party that has statutory provisions for its party operations.

Report of Registration — 154-Day 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, in each county, and in each political subdivision thereof. This report is based on the number of persons registered as of January 2, 2018 (E-154).

$5,000 Report (Electronic Filers Only) - Deadline

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

Election Cycle Reports — 24-Hour 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 ballot measure in a slate mailer must report the payment within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office online or by 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).⁵

Election Cycle Reports — 24-Hour Independent Expenditure Report

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election or on the date of the election, an independent expenditure of $1,000 or more made to a specific candidate or measure involved in an election must be reported on the Independent Expenditure Report (Form 496) within 24 hours to the Secretary of State's office online or by electronic transmission only. For purposes of the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement Board, the date of the election is the deadline to return ballots and a copy of the Form 496 must be filed with the relevant board office.⁵

Candidate Intention Statement - Deadline if Purchasing Space for Candidate Statement in County Voter Information Guide

Last day for State Senator and Member of the State Assembly candidates to file the Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) agreeing to accept the voluntary expenditure limits in order to purchase space for a 250-word candidate statement in the county voter information guide(s) of the county or counties in their jurisdiction.⁵

Statement of Economic Interests

Last day for specified candidates in an election to file a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) disclosing their investments, interests in real property, and any income received during the immediately preceding 12 months.⁵

Nomination Period Extension - Incumbent Fails to File

If an eligible incumbent state constitutional officer, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, or Member of the State Assembly fails to file nomination documents by 5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2018 (E-88), a five-day extension is allowed for any person, other than the incumbent, to file for the elective office during the extended period.

Reopening of Nomination Period — Death of a Candidate for Nonpartisan Office

Period in which filing nomination papers for a nonpartisan office, except for a judicial office, shall be reopened in an election where an incumbent who is a candidate for a nonpartisan statewide office where only one other candidate, excluding any write-in candidates, has qualified to have his or her name placed on the ballot for that office and either the challenger or the incumbent dies after March 9, 2018 (E-88), but before March 29, 2018 (E-68). Any qualified person may circulate and deliver nomination documents for office to the county elections official not later than 5:00 p.m. on March 29, 2018 (E-68).

Nomination Documents Forwarded to the Secretary of State Deadline

Last day for county elections officials to forward to the Secretary of State nomination documents for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly, together with a statement showing the number of valid nomination signatures.

Nomination Period Extension - Incumbent Fails to File Deadline

By 5:00 p.m. on this day, any person, other than an eligible incumbent who did not qualify for nomination by March 9, 2018 (E-88), can file nomination documents for that office.

Nomination Period Extension — Death of a Voter-Nominated Candidate Deadline

By 5:00 p.m. on this day, any qualified person can deliver to the county elections official his or her nomination documents for any voter-nominated office for which a candidate had filed but who died after March 9, 2018 (E-88), but on or before March 14, 2018 (E-83).

Party Preference History Posting on Website

On or before this day, the Secretary of State will post on its website, the party preference history of each candidate for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly for the preceding 10 years.

Death of a Candidate — Name on Ballot

Last day for the county elections official to remove a deceased candidate's name from the primary election ballot.

Certified List of Candidates and Rotation List

Last day for the Secretary of State to certify and send to each county elections official a list of candidates to be voted on throughout the state showing the name of every person eligible to receive votes within the county at the primary election, their addresses, the office for which they seek nomination, their party preference, and, if applicable, their ballot designation.

The Secretary of State shall also provide to county elections officials a list of candidates to be voted on throughout the state for each county arranged according to the randomized alphabet drawn on March 15, 2018 (E-82).

Sections 8120-8125

Section 13111

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

Period in which county elections officials shall notify the Secretary of State that voter registration information is available in the California Statewide Voter Registration Database (VoteCal) by indicating readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) by April 16, 2018 (E-50) with respect to voters registered as of April 6, 2018 (E-60).

Statement of Write-In Candidacy and Nomination Papers

Period in which all write-in candidates for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly must leave a statement of write-in candidacy and nomination papers with the county elections official for filing with the Secretary of State.

Report of Registration — 60-Day County Readiness Deadline

Deadline for county elections officials to indicate Report of Registration readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) of all voters registered as of April 6, 2018 (E-60).

State Voter Information Guides to State and Local Officials and Public Institutions

On or before this date, the Secretary of State shall send a specified number of copies of the state Voter Information Guide to city and county elections officials, members of the Legislature, proponents of statewide ballot measures, public libraries, and specified educational institutions.

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 April 6, 2018 (E-60). This mailing is based on the information provided by county elections officials to the Secretary of State by April 16, 2018 (E-50).

First Pre-Election Statement

Last day to file campaign statements for candidates and committees for the period ending April 21, 2018 (E-45). Candidate controlled committees and primarily formed candidate and measure committees appearing on the ballot must file this statement. State general purpose committees making contributions or independent expenditures of $500 or more in connection with the election must also file this statement. Political parties must file this statement if they receive contributions totaling $1,000 or more or if contributions or independent expenditures totaling $500 or more were made in connection with the election. State slate mailer organizations must file this statement if payments of $500 or more are received or made to produce a slate mailer in connection with the election.⁵

Notice of Early Tabulation

On or before this date, the county governing body shall notify the county elections official that certain offices or measures to be voted on are of more than ordinary public interest and will require an early tabulation and announcement.

Non-Voter's Choice Act Counties: Precinct Board Members and Polling Places

On or before this date, the county elections official shall appoint members of the precinct boards and designate the polling places.

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

Period in 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 returned in the same manner as all other voted vote-by-mail ballots.

State Voter Information Guide - Mailing Deadline

On or before this date, the Secretary of State, or the county elections official, if appropriate, shall mail state Voter Information Guides to all households in which voters were registered by April 6, 2018 (E-60).

Report of Registration — 60-Day 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, in each county, and in each political subdivision thereof. This report is based on the number of persons registered as of April 6, 2018 (E-60).

15-Day Close of Registration for the Primary Election

Last day to register to vote in the primary election. The Voter Registration Form shall be mailed (postmarked by this date) or delivered to the county elections official by this date and is effective upon receipt. The Voter Registration Form may also be submitted by this date to the Secretary of State, Department of Motor Vehicles, or any National Voter Registration Act designated agency.

A request for a vote-by-mail ballot from a military or overseas voter, if postmarked on or before this date, will be deemed an affidavit of registration and an application for permanent vote-by-mail status. When a county elections official receives and approves a registration application from a military or overseas voter, the official must provide that voter with a vote-by-mail ballot for each subsequent election for federal office in the state unless the voter fails to vote in four consecutive statewide general elections.

See Item #89 for exception.

52 U.S.C. Sections 20301, 20501; Sections 300(b), 321, 2102, 3102

Sections 3102(e), 3206

Report of Registration — 15-Day County Readiness

Period in which county elections officials shall notify the Secretary of State that voter registration information is available in the California Statewide Voter Registration Database (VoteCal) by indicating Report of Registration readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) with respect to voters registered as of May 21, 2018 (E-15).

Conditional Voter Registration Period

Period in which an elector can “conditionally” register and vote provisionally at the county elections office, designated satellite office, or a vote center after the 15-day voter registration deadline.

Bilingual Precinct Board Members

Last day for county elections officials to prepare a list of precincts to which bilingual officers were appointed. A copy of this list shall be made available to the public.

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.

Second Pre-Election Statement

Last day to file campaign statements for candidates and committees for the period ending May 19, 2018 (E-17). Candidate controlled committees, primarily formed candidate and measure committees appearing on the ballot must file this statement by guaranteed overnight mail or personal delivery. State general purpose committees making contributions or independent expenditures of $500 or more in connection with the election must also file this statement. Political parties must file this statement if they receive contributions totaling $1,000 or more or if contributions or independent expenditures totaling $500 or more were made in connection with the election. State slate mailer organizations must file this statement if payments of $500 or more are received or made to produce a slate mailer in connection with the election.⁵

Voter's Choice Act Counties: Open One Vote Center for Every 50,000 Registered Voters

Counties that are implementing the Voter's Choice Act will open one vote center for every 50,000 registered voters. The locations and hours of operation of these vote centers will be available in vote-by-mail materials and on the county website. Any voter registered in the county may visit any vote center in order to receive voter services or vote.

Report of Registration — 15-Day County Readiness Deadline

Deadline for county elections officials to indicate Report of Registration readiness in their Election Management System (EMS) of all voters registered as of May 21, 2018 (E-15).

Computer Program to Secretary of State

Last day for counties to verify their election night vote count computer programs and deposit copies thereof with the Secretary of State.

Request for Vote-By-Mail Ballots — Late Conditions

Period in which any voter may request in writing a vote-by-mail ballot if, because of specified conditions, he or she will be unable to go to the polls for an election. A written statement is not necessary if the vote-by-mail ballot is voted in the office of the elections official at the time of the request. The voter may designate any authorized representative to receive the ballot and return the voted vote-by-mail ballot.

Early Ballot Pickup Notification Deadline

If a county elections official will pick up ballots prior to the closing of the polls, at least 48 hours in advance of an election, the elections official must notify the public of the dates, times, and places at which ballot containers will be delivered.

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

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) or Statement of Organization Slate Mailer Organization (Form 400) within 24 hours of qualification with the filing officer who will receive the committee’s original disclosure statements by personal delivery, facsimile transmission, online transmission, or guaranteed overnight delivery.⁵

Military or Overseas Voter Recalled to Service - Registration Deadline

Last day a registered military or overseas voter recalled to service after May 29, 2018 (E-7), but before 5:00 p.m. on June 4, 2018 (E-1), may appear before the county elections official where they are registered, or, if within the state, in the county in which they have been recalled to service, and obtain 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 and returned as are other voted vote-by-mail ballots.

Hand Delivered of Faxed Vote-By-Mail Ballots Returned in Order to be Counted - Deadline

Voted vote-by-mail ballots hand delivered to the office of the elections official, a polling place, a vote center, a vote-by-mail drop-off location, or a drop box must be received by the county elections official by the close of the polls on Election Day.

Last day a military or overseas voter who is living outside of the United States (or is called for service within the United States on or after May 29, 2018 (E-7), may return his or her ballot by facsimile transmission. To be counted, the ballot returned by facsimile transmission shall be received by the voter's elections official by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day and shall be accompanied by an identification envelope and a signed oath of declaration. 

Election Cycle Reports — 24-Hour Contribution Report - Period Ends

During the 90 days immediately preceding an election or on the date of the election, 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 online or by electronic transmission only: contributions made to or received by a candidate being voted upon on the June 5 ballot; contributions made to or received by a primarily formed candidate or ballot measure being voted upon on the June 5 ballot; or, contributions made to or received by a political party committee. For purposes of the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement Board, the date of the election is the deadline to return ballots. (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. These contributions are reported on the Contribution Report (Form 497).⁵

Military or Overseas Voters - Late Conditions

Any registered military or overseas voter or any individual born outside of the United States or District of Columbia whose parent or legal guardian was a resident of California when the parent was last living in the United States 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 to vote in the county elections official's office or in a polling place.

An unregistered military or overseas voter who was 1) released from service after the close of registration and who has returned to his or her county of residence or 2) required to move under official active duty military orders after the close of registration may apply in person to register with the county elections official and vote in the election. Documentary proof of release from service or official military orders are 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.

A military or overseas voter or any individual born outside of the United States or District of Columbia whose parent or legal guardian was a resident of California when the parent was last living in the United States who returns to the county after May 29, 2018 (E-7), may appear before the county elections official and apply 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 the day of the election and returned as are other voted vote-by-mail ballots.

Vote-By-Mail Ballot Applications for Out-Of-State Emergency Workers

Last day, 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, that 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, and returned in the same manner as other voted vote-by-mail ballots.

Conditional Voter Registration — Deadline

Last day for an elector to "conditionally" register and vote provisionally at the county elections office, designated satellite office, or a vote center.

Amended Candidate Intention Statement

If the voluntary expenditure limits are rejected in the primary, but not exceeded during that election, the Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) may be amended to accept the expenditure limits for the general election. The amended Form 501 must be filed within 14 days following the primary election.

Mailed Vote-By-Mail Ballots - Last Day to be Counted

Any vote-by-mail ballot cast shall be deemed timely if it is received by the elections official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company no later than three days after Election Day and either of the following is satisfied: 1) the ballot is postmarked on or before Election Day or is time stamped or date stamped by a bona fide private mail delivery company on or before Election Day, or 2) if the ballot has no postmark, a postmark with no date, or an illegible postmark, the vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope is date stamped by the elections official upon receipt of the vote-by-mail ballot from the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, and is signed and dated pursuant to Section 3011 on or before Election Day.

Vote-By-Mail Ballots Unsigned Identification Envelope

Last day for a voter who did not sign the vote-by-mail ballot identification envelope to either sign the identification envelope at the office of the county elections official or complete and submit an "unsigned ballot statement" in person, by mail, or by email.

Amended Candidate Intention Statement - Deadline

If the voluntary expenditure limits are rejected in the primary, but not exceeded during that election, the Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) may be amended to accept the expenditure limits for the general election. The amended Form 501 must be filed within 14 days following the primary election.

Statement of Results to Secretary of State

By this date, the county elections official shall send to the Secretary of State, in an electronic format, one complete copy of the primary election returns for all candidates for statewide constitutional office, United States Senator, United States Representative in Congress, State Senator, and Member of the State Assembly, and for all statewide ballot measures.

Statement of the Vote

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

Campaign Statement — Semiannual

Last day to file semiannual campaign statements for candidates, committees, and slate mailer organizations.