(a) A petition signature shall be included in a raw count and shall be subject to signature verification when all sections of the petition being reviewed include all elements required by the Elections Code for the type of petition being examined.(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a petition signature shall be included in a raw count and the signature shall be subject to signature verification if: (1) The space on the petition section identifying the jurisdiction where the petition section was circulated is left blank.(2) The petition section has signatures on the back of a printed petition, if the signatures are before the circulator's declaration and each page bearing signatures contains all elements required by statute. This provision does not apply to a recall petition.(3) The entire face of the petition section indicates the petition section was circulated among voters of counties other than the county where the petitions were filed but contain one or more signatures of voters registered in the county of filing. However, any signatures of voters registered in another county shall be included in the raw count but shall not be subject to verification.(4) The petition section is labeled as being circulated in counties other than the county of filing but contains one or more signatures of voters registered in the county of filing. However, any signatures of voters registered in another county shall be included in the raw count but shall not be subject to verification.(5) The petition section is photocopied, but it includes all elements required by statute and bears original signatures, original printed names and residence addresses.(6) The entire petition section is reproduced in handwriting, and it includes all elements required by statute. This provision does not apply to a recall petition.(7) The petition section does not include a one-inch space at the top of each page and/or after the name of the signer. This provision does not apply to a recall petition.(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), a petition signature shall not be included in a raw count and the signature shall not be subject to signature verification if: (1) The petition directs signers to include their "address as registered" rather than their "residence address." This provision does not apply to a recall petition.(2) One or more pages of a multi-page statewide initiative or referendum petition section fail to include the title and summary while remaining pages of the same section are properly identified. However, the failure to include the title and summary on one page or more pages of a statewide initiative or referendum petition section does not invalidate other pages of the same section that otherwise include all elements required by statute.(3) The required text of a measure, declaration of circulator, or title and summary have been cut off one page of a multi-page petition section. A section of a petition may be a single page or multiple pages that are securely bound together. However, the failure to include the required text of a measure, declaration of circulator, or title and summary on one page of a petition section does not invalidate other pages of the same section that otherwise include all elements required by statute.(4) Signatures are on loose-leaf or other paper informally identified as part of a petition section, but are not bearing proper caption, text, or the title and summary. This provision does not apply to a recall petition, a nomination petition, or a signature in-lieu filing fee petition.(5) The Attorney General's identification number is missing on a petition section of a statewide initiative or referendum petition.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 20920
1. New article 2 (section 20920) and section filed 3-15-2022; operative 3-15-2022 (Register 2022, No. 11). Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code. Reference: Sections 100, 100.5, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 9001, 9008, 9009, 9010, 9011, 9012, 9013, 9014, 9015, 9020, 9021, 9022, 9108, 9109 and 11047, Elections Code; and Section 12172.5, Government Code.
1. New article 2 (section 20920) and section filed 3-15-2022; operative 3/15/2022 (Register 2022, No. 11).