Candidates will be running in a Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act and Voter-Nominated Offices
On June 8, 2010, California voters approved Proposition 14, which created the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act.
Except for the office of U.S. President and county central committee offices, offices that used to be known as "partisan offices" (e.g., state constitutional offices, U.S. Congress, and state legislative offices) are now known as "voter-nominated" offices.
Under the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, all candidates running in a primary election, regardless of their party preference, will appear on a single Primary Election ballot and voters can vote fzor any candidate. The top two overall vote-getters – not the top vote-getter from each qualified party and anyone using the independent nomination process – will move on to the General Election.
Candidates for voter-nominated office can choose whether to list their party preference on the Primary and General Election ballots. Political parties can no longer formally nominate candidates for voter-nominated offices, so a candidate who finishes in the top two at the Primary Election and advances to the General Election is not the official nominee of any party for the office.
On June 8, 2010, California voters approved Proposition 14, which created the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act.
Except for the office of U.S. President and county central committee offices, offices that used to be known as "partisan offices" (e.g., state constitutional offices, U.S. Congress, and state legislative offices) are now known as "voter-nominated" offices.
Under the Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act, all candidates running in a primary election, regardless of their party preference, will appear on a single Primary Election ballot and voters can vote fzor any candidate. The top two overall vote-getters – not the top vote-getter from each qualified party and anyone using the independent nomination process – will move on to the General Election.
Candidates for voter-nominated office can choose whether to list their party preference on the Primary and General Election ballots. Political parties can no longer formally nominate candidates for voter-nominated offices, so a candidate who finishes in the top two at the Primary Election and advances to the General Election is not the official nominee of any party for the office.
Election Dates and Deadlines
What |
When |
Description |
Nomination Period |
Nov.11 - Dec. 6 by 5 p.m. |
First & last day for candidates to file nomination documents with City Clerk (E. C. §§ 10220, 10224 and 10407) During this period candidates may file with the City Clerk a candidate statement not to exceed the word limitation (200 words) for inclusion in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet. The statement shall be filed no later than the last day to file nomination documents. (E. C. § 13307) Candidate statements are only included in the Official Sample Ballot Booklet and will not be included in the Vote By Mail Voting Instructions and Guide. *November 11 is Veterans Day, nominations will open on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. |
Deadline to Call Election for Ballot Measures |
Dec. 6 |
Last Day to Call Election for Ballot Measures |
Candidate Withdrawl |
Dec. 11 |
No candidate whose Declaration of Candidacy has been filed may withdraw after this date. |
Nomination Extension Period (If incumbant does not file) |
Dec. 6- Dec. 11 by 5 p.m. |
If nomination documents for an incumbent are not filed by 5:00 p.m. on December 6, 2019, the nomination period shall be extended until December 11, 2019 at 5:00 p.m., for persons other than the incumbent. The extension does not apply where there is no incumbent eligible to be elected. |
Public Examination Period |
Dec. 7 - Dec. 16 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
Recommended period for the City Clerk to make available candidate statements, candidate names and ballot designations for public examination during the regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A fee may be charged to any person obtaining a copy of the material. During this period any person may file a writ of mandate or an injunction to require any or all of the data/material in a candidate statement to be amended or deleted. (E. C. §13313) For candidate names and ballot designations, a writ of mandate may be filed pursuant to E.C. § 13314. *If the nomination period is extended for a particular office, the examination period for that office shall be adjusted to December 12 to December 23, 2019. |
Randomized Alphabet Drawing |
Dec.12 |
The Secretary of State shall hold a public drawing to determine the order of candidate names to appear on the ballot by randomly drawing each letter of the alphabet. (E. C. § 13112) |
Mailing of Official Sample Ballot Pamphlets |
Jan. 23 - Feb. 25 |
Applications may be filed between these dates (both dates inclusive). Applications received prior to the 29th day preceding the election will be kept and processed during this period. (E. C. § 3001) |
March 3 |
Election Day Polls Open 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
Last day for ballots to be turned in personally to elections official's office or any voting place in L.A. County. Ballots must be postmarked by March 3, 2020 and received within three days to be counted. |