(a) The names of candidates for local, state, and federal office shall appear on all official ballots, including polling place ballots and absentee ballots, and all sample ballots, in Chinese characters as well as in English or any other languages required by law or selected by the Director of Elections or the director’s designee (“Director”).
(b) For purposes of this Section 401:
(1) “Translation” shall mean the selection of Chinese characters to represent the parts of a Chinese name, or a name in any other language that traditionally is written using Chinese characters.
(2) “Transliteration” shall mean the selection of Chinese characters to represent the phonetic equivalent of the syllables of an English name, or a name in any other language that is not traditionally written using Chinese characters.
(c) During the period for filing nomination papers under Municipal Elections Code Section 205, the Department shall review requests from potential candidates regarding Chinese character-based names under this Section 401.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (e), the Director of shall cause a translation or transliteration of the names of all candidates for City elective office and for seats on political party county councils and county central committees to be prepared by a qualified Chinese-language interpreter according to generally-accepted professional standards. A candidate may submit documentary evidence demonstrating established use of a particular translation or transliteration of the candidate’s name to assist the interpreter. If the candidate wishes to use a particular name based on established use of the name, the documentary evidence the candidate submits must show that the candidate has been known within the public sphere by the name during the two years prior to filing nomination papers. A translated or transliterated name must be comprised of characters that are neutral in meaning and may not include characters that convey characteristics or qualities of the candidate that are intended to influence the voters.
(e) Chinese Character-Based Names Given at Birth.
(1) If a candidate was given a Chinese character-based name at birth, the candidate may submit a birth certificate or other valid identification to verify the name.
(2) A candidate who was given a Chinese-character based name at birth but cannot provide a birth certificate or other valid identification may submit a declaration signed by a family member under the penalty of perjury that affirms the candidate was given the Chinese-character based name at birth. If the candidate is unable to obtain such declaration from a family member, the candidate may submit their own declaration under penalty of perjury affirming that they received the Chinese-character based name at birth, that they do not have a birth certificate or other identification verifying the name, and that they are unable to obtain a declaration from a family member.
(f) The Director’s decision to accept the translation or transliteration of a candidate’s name submitted by the Department’s interpreter under subsection (d) or to accept a candidate’s submission of a Chinese character-based name given at birth under subsection (e) shall be final. Chinese character-based names accepted by the Director shall be available for public review for ten days under California Elections Code Section 13313, and the Director’s decision may be challenged pursuant to that section. Only following the ten-day public examination period will any names be considered final.
(Added by Ord. 233-99, File No. 991282, App. 8/20/99; amended by Ord. 162-24, File No. 240397, App. 7/3/2024, Eff. 8/3/2024)