ARTICLE IV
ELECTIONS

Section

General Provisions Relating to Elections

400   Types of Elections.

401   Election Days – City of Los Angeles and Board of Education.

402   Ordinance Ordering the Holding of an Election.

403   Officers of Election.

404   Returns of Election.

405   Employment of Additional Persons.

406   Recounts.

407   Eligibility for Office.

408   Eligibility to Vote.

409   Filling Vacancies in the Offices of Mayor, City Attorney, Controller and Member of the City Council.

410   Filling Vacancies in the Office of Members of the Board of Education.

411   Substantial Compliance with Election Requirements.

412   City Election Code; Amendments.

Primary Nominating and General Municipal Elections

420   Candidate’s Filing Fee.

421   Declaration of Intention.

422   Nominating Petition.

423   Withdrawal of Nominating Petition.

424   Primary Nominating Election Ballot.

425   Results of Primary Nominating Election.

426   General Election Ballot.

427   Death or Disqualification of Candidate.

Recall

430   Subject of Recall.

431   Recall Petition.

432   Action by Council on Recall Petition.

433   Supporting and Opposing Arguments.

434   Prohibition on Reappointment.

435   Recall Ballot.

436   Nomination of Candidates to Replace Recalled Officer.

437   Election of Candidate to Succeed Recalled Officer.

438   Removal of Appointed Officers.

439   Resignation or Vacancy Pending Removal.

440   Removal of the City Clerk.

Initiative

450   Subject of Initiative.

451   Initiative Petition.

452   Action by Council on Initiative Petition Requesting Adoption of Ordinance.

453   Action by Council on Initiative Petition Requesting Amendment or Repeal of Ordinance.

454   Supporting and Opposing Arguments.

455   Adoption of Ordinances by Initiative.

Referendum

460   Subject of Referendum.

461   Referendary Petition.

462   Action by City Council on Referendary Petition.

463   Conflict Between Measures.

464   Amendment and Repeal of Ordinances Adopted by Initiative and Referendum.

Campaign Finance

470   Limitations on Campaign Contributions in City Elections.

471   Public Matching Funds and Campaign Expenditure Limitations.

City of Los Angeles Independent Redistricting Commission

480   Commission Establishment and Purpose.

481   Commission Organization, Powers, and Duties.

482   Commissioner Qualifications and Restrictions.

483   Commissioner Selection and Removal.

484   Redistricting Criteria.

485   Public Meetings, Outreach, and Accessibility.

486   Commission Conduct of Business, Administration, and Personnel.

487   Adoption of Final Redistricting Plan.

488   Commission Funding.

489   Commission Recommendations.

490   City Data Bureau.

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ELECTIONS

Sec. 400. Types of Elections.

   Municipal elections held in the City of Los Angeles shall be classified as primary nominating elections, general municipal elections and special elections.

Sec. 401. Election Days – City of Los Angeles and Board of Education.

   For City offices and elections of the Board of Education, primary nominating elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in every even-numbered year, and general municipal elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year. The Council may, by ordinance, specify different dates for the primary nominating and general municipal elections so that they may be held on the same dates as the statewide primary and general elections.

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Charter Amendment R § 1, approved March 5, 2002, effective April 12, 2002; Charter Amendment 1, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015; Charter Amendment 2, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015; Charter Amendment E, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018; Charter Amendment EE, approved November 6, 2018, effective December 14, 2018; Charter Amendment HH, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Sec. 402. Ordinance Ordering the Holding of an Election.

   The Council shall, by ordinance, order the holding of all elections. The ordinance ordering the election shall specify the object and time of holding the election and whether the election is to be conducted by the City Clerk or, alternatively, consolidated with another election or otherwise conducted by the County of Los Angeles. The ordinance also shall establish election precincts, designate polling places and name officers of election for each precinct, and may do so by making reference to other enactments or documents. Any ordinance ordering the holding of an election may also order the holding of a run-off election, to be held if necessary.

SECTION HISTORY

Amended by: Charter Amendment 1, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015; Charter Amendment 2, approved March 3, 2015, effective April 2, 2015.