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ARTICLE IV
ELECTIONS
 
 
Section
 
 
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.
 
 
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.
 
 
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.
 
 
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.
 
 
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.
 
 
470   Limitations on Campaign Contributions in City Elections.
471   Public Matching Funds and Campaign Expenditure Limitations.
 
 
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.
 
   (a)   Until the year 2020, 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 odd-numbered year, and general municipal elections shall be held on the third Tuesday in May in every odd-numbered year, except that no such elections will be held in the year 2019 in order to transition to new election dates as provided in subsection (b).
 
   (b)   Beginning in the year 2020, 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.
 
 
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.
 
 
Sec. 403. Officers of Election.
 
   Officers of election for elections conducted by the City Clerk shall be selected and appointed in accordance with procedures set forth in the City Election Code. No candidate who has taken out papers for nomination, nor a member of his or her immediate family, shall be permitted to act as an election officer, nor shall the polling place be held in his or her residence.
 
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.
 
 
Sec. 404. Returns of Election.
 
   The returns of every election conducted by the City Clerk shall be delivered to the City Clerk, who shall, within 28 days after any election, canvass the returns and certify them to the Council, who shall declare the result and order the issuance of certificates of nomination or election as appropriate. The Council shall be the judge of the qualifications of all of the elected officers. When any municipal election is consolidated with any state or county election, after the Board of Supervisors or Registrar of Voters of Los Angeles County has canvassed the returns and certified the result of the canvass of all municipal questions submitted at the election to the Council, the Council shall declare the result and order the issuance of certificates of nomination or election as appropriate. Any act in relation to the conduct of the election required by the Charter to be performed by an officer or employee of the City may be performed by the proper officer or employee of the county.
 
SECTION HISTORY
 
Amended by: Charter Amendment R § 2, 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.
 
 
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