CHAPTER 1.5. Alternative Election Roll [41025. - 41028.]

Cal. Water Code - WAT 1.5.

in effect

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 41025. Section 41025.

As an alternative to using the most recent county assessment roll, the board may cause an election roll to be prepared and used for determining ownership and value of parcels for all purposes involving elections. For purposes of a formation election, the department may also elect to cause an election roll to be prepared and shall perform those functions designated to be performed by the board or secretary in this chapter. If the procedures provided in this chapter are used, Sections 41018 to 41020, inclusive, shall not apply.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 41026. Section 41026.

(a) The board shall have a preliminary election roll prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) by a registered civil engineer. The engineer shall prepare the preliminary election roll by division unless all district elections are at large. (b) The preliminary election roll shall include each parcel of land listed on the most recent county assessment roll, any federal and state land, and any other unvalued lands within the district. For each parcel, the preliminary election roll shall list the name of the holder of title to land and the area of that parcel. The preliminary election roll shall assign each voter one of the following: (1) One vote for each acre of land owned by that voter within the district. If the voter owns less than one acre, the voter shall be entitled to one vote. Any fraction of an acre shall be rounded to the next full acre. (2) A number of votes based on the benefits derived by each parcel from being within the boundaries of the district, or from receiving services from the district, or both. The engineer shall consider, among other factors, the nature of the use or allowed uses of the parcel, whether the parcel is developed or undeveloped, and the nature of the district’s services provided to or available to the parcel. (c) The secretary shall publish a notice of preparation of the preliminary election roll pursuant to Section 39057, indicating the date, time, and place of the board’s hearing to consider the preliminary election roll. The notice shall also provide information concerning the availability of the preliminary election roll. (d) A copy of the preliminary election roll shall be available at the district’s offices during regular business hours and at any other convenient location, as determined by the district.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 41027. Section 41027.

(a) The board shall hold a public hearing to receive any testimony regarding the preliminary election roll. The hearing may be continued from time to time. Following the hearing and deliberations, the board shall make any changes to the preliminary election roll and shall adopt the election roll. (b) If the preliminary election roll was prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 41026, the adopted election roll shall be deemed the final election roll. (c) If the preliminary election roll was prepared pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 41026, the secretary shall send the adopted election roll to the board of supervisors of the principal county. Upon receiving the adopted election roll, the board of supervisors of the principal county shall set the date, time, and place for a public hearing to receive any testimony regarding the adopted election roll. The board of supervisors shall publish a notice of its public hearing pursuant to Section 39057. At the hearing, the board of supervisors shall receive any testimony regarding the adopted election roll. The hearing may be continued from time to time. Following the hearing and deliberations, the board of supervisors shall either approve or disapprove the adopted election roll. If the board of supervisors approves the adopted election roll, it shall send the final election roll to the board. If the board of supervisors disapproves the adopted election roll, the board of supervisors shall notify the board of its disapproval and may recommend changes to the adopted election roll for the board to consider. The district shall compensate the principal county for any costs incurred by the board of supervisors pursuant to this chapter. (d) The secretary shall certify and file the final election roll not later than the date of the first publication of the notice provided pursuant to Section 41308.

Cal. Water Code - WAT § 41028. Section 41028.

The final election roll shall be used for all purposes relating to elections, until subsequently modified in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter, or until the board elects at least 84 days prior to a general election to use the most recent county assessment roll. The board may at any time cause a revised preliminary election roll to be prepared in accordance with Section 41026. Upon written petition filed by the holders of title to land with at least 10 percent of the votes based on the last finalized election roll, at least 150 days before any general or special election, the board shall prepare a new preliminary election roll and follow the procedures provided for in Section 41027. At least 84 days prior to an election, the district shall update the names listed as the holder of title to land of each parcel on the election roll and may rely on the most recent county assessment roll for determining ownership.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026