Nomination papers for a statewide office for which the candidate is to be nominated shall be signed by voters of the state equal to not less in number than 1 percent of the entire number of registered voters of the state at the time of the close of registration prior to the preceding general election. Nomination papers for an office, other than a statewide office, shall be signed by the voters of the area for which the candidate is to be nominated, not less in number than 3 percent of the entire number of registered voters in the area at the time of the close of registration prior to the preceding general election. Nomination papers for Representative in Congress, State Senator or Assembly Member, to be voted for at a special election to fill a vacancy, shall be signed by voters in the district not less in number than 500 or 1 percent of the entire vote cast in the area at the preceding general election, whichever is less, nor more than 1,000.

(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Terms Used In California Elections Code 8400

  • candidate: includes any officeholder who is subject to a recall election. See California Elections Code 305
  • Election: means any election including a primary that is provided for under this code. See California Elections Code 318
  • General election: means either of the following:

    California Elections Code 324

  • Special election: is a n election, the specific time for the holding of which is not prescribed by law. See California Elections Code 356