ARTICLE 4.5. Election to Select County Officers and Location of County Seat in the Approved County [23374.1. - 23374.19.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 4.5.
in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.1. Section 23374.1.

If the election for the purpose of determining whether the proposed county shall be created results in the county’s creation being approved, an election for purposes of determining the location of the county seat and the selection of county officers shall be held in the approved county at the next statewide primary or general election date. The board of supervisors of each affected county shall order and give proclamation and notice of the election. The election may be consolidated with the statewide primary or general election.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.2. Section 23374.2.

The proclamation and notice of election provided for pursuant to this article shall be published at least once a week for three weeks commencing not less than 70 days prior to the date of the election in a newspaper of general circulation in the approved county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.3. Section 23374.3.

The content of the notice of election for the election to select the county officers for the approved county and the location of the county seat in the approved county shall be determined by the board of supervisors of the principal county. The notice of election shall include a statement that any city council in a city within the approved county or any member or members of the council authorized by the council, any qualified elector entitled to vote at the election, any bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of qualified electors and associations may submit and file written arguments with the elections official of the principal county for printing and distribution in the ballot pamphlet, in accordance with Section 9163 of the Elections Code.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.4. Section 23374.4.

All registered voters residing in the boundaries of the approved county, who have been registered voters of the approved county 29 days prior to the election provided for in this article are entitled to vote in such election. Registration and transfers of registration shall be made and shall close in the manner and at the times provided by law for registration and transfers of registration for a general election in the state.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.5. Section 23374.5.

Ballots at the election provided for in this article shall contain the question: “Shall (insert the name of the county seat as determined by commission) be the county seat of the County of (insert the name of the county)?” To the right of or below the question, the words “Yes” and “No” shall be printed on separate lines, with voting targets. If a voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “Yes,” the voter’s vote shall be counted in favor of the adoption of the county seat. If the voter marks the voting target next to the printed word “No,” the voter’s vote shall be counted against its adoption.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.6. Section 23374.6.

Candidates for elective offices of the approved county shall file nomination papers at the same time and in the same manner as candidates for the governing body of general law counties.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.7. Section 23374.7.

The election shall be governed and controlled by the general election laws of the state so far as applicable, except as otherwise provided in this article.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.8. Section 23374.8.

The clerk of the principal county shall cause a ballot pamphlet concerning the election of county officers for the approved county and the location of the county seat in the approved county to be printed and mailed to each registered voter of the approved county. The ballot pamphlet shall contain the following: (a) The names of the persons to be voted for to fill the county offices designated by the commission. (b) The argument for the location of the county seat in the approved county. (c) The argument against the location of the county seat in the approved county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.9. Section 23374.9.

The clerk shall also prepare and mail to the registered voters of the approved county a sample ballot. The sample ballot shall be mailed with and at the same time as the ballot pamphlet.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.10. Section 23374.10.

The law relating to the preparation, printing, and distribution of sample ballots and general elections does not apply to any election held pursuant to this article.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.12. Section 23374.12.

The election officers appointed pursuant to Section 23363 for purposes of the election held to determine whether the proposed county shall be created shall also act in such capacity for purposes of the election held to select county officers for the approved county and the location of the county seat in the approved county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.13. Section 23374.13.

The elections official of the principal county shall furnish to the officers of each precinct in the approved county the supplies and equipment as provided for in Sections 14105 and 14110 of the Elections Code. The elections official of each other affected county shall provide to the officers of each precinct the indexes of registration for the precincts of the approved county within their respective county. In addition, the elections official may, with the approval of the board of supervisors, furnish the original books of affidavits of registration or other material necessary to verify signatures.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.14. Section 23374.14.

Immediately on the closing of the polls, the election officers shall, in connection with the affected county they represent: (a) Canvass the ballots. (b) Make up and certify the tally sheets of the ballots cast. (c) Seal up the ballots. (d) Attach a statement, signed by each election officer, to the tally sheets showing the number of votes cast, the number of votes cast for each candidate and the numbers of votes cast for and against the proposed location of the county seat in the approved county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.15. Section 23374.15.

The clerk of the principal county shall, upon the completion of a canvass of the vote, forward to the board of the principal county a certified copy of the results of the canvass, giving the number of votes cast for each candidate and the number of votes cast for and against the proposed location of the county seat in the approved county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.16. Section 23374.16.

Upon receiving a certified copy of the results of the canvass, the board of supervisors of the principal county, by resolution, shall: (a) Declare the results of the election on the county seat. If more than 50 percent of the total number of all votes cast within the approved new county are in favor of the county seat, such location shall be the county seat until removed in the manner provided by law. Where the proposed county seat is not affirmed by the voters, the board of supervisors of the approved county shall designate a temporary county seat until removed in the manner provided by law. (b) Name the persons receiving the highest number of votes cast for the several offices to be filled at the general election and declare those persons duly elected to the respective offices and that they shall enter upon the duties of their offices upon election and qualification, and prescribe the amount of the bonds such elected officers shall provide upon taking office.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.17. Section 23374.17.

The clerk of the principal county shall immediately make out and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election, authenticated by his signature and the seal of the board of the principal county.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.18. Section 23374.18.

All the officers elected at the election shall hold their offices until the times provided by general law for the election and qualification of such officers, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 23374.19. Section 23374.19.

All costs of an election shall first be paid by the principal county. The new county shall then reimburse the principal county for all costs of the election held pursuant to this article.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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