“Percent of the total vote cast,” when used with reference to the requirements of any petition or nomination paper, means percent of the total vote cast, exclusive of vote by mail ballots, within the proposed district, district, city or territory, as the case may be at the last statewide general election.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 118, Sec. 5. (AB 1412) Effective January 1, 2012.)