When an elector contests any election he or she shall file with the clerk of the superior court having jurisdiction a written statement setting forth specifically:

(a) The name of the contestant and that he or she is an elector of the district or county, as the case may be, in which the contested election was held.

Terms Used In California Elections Code 16400

  • Clerk: means the county elections official, registrar of voters, city clerk, or other officer or board charged with the duty of conducting any election. See California Elections Code 307
  • contestant: means any person initiating an election contest. See California Elections Code 16002
  • Election: means any election including a primary that is provided for under this code. See California Elections Code 318
  • Elector: means a person who is a United States citizen 18 years of age or older and, except as specified in subdivision (b), is a resident of an election precinct in this state on or before the day of an election. See California Elections Code 321
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

(b) The name of the defendant.

(c) The office.

(d) The particular grounds of contest and the section of this code under which the statement is filed.

(e) The date of declaration of the result of the election by the body canvassing the returns thereof.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1143, Sec. 56. Effective September 30, 1996.)