Candidates & Campaigns

Instructions for Filing Arguments

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES

 

Primary arguments for or against local ballot measures may be submitted in writing for printing and distribution to the voters, pursuant to provisions of the California Elections Code. Rebuttals by authors of said arguments may be filed in like manner. One argument for and one rebuttal thereto, if any, on the measure will be selected for printing and distribution to the voters.

 

Who Can File Arguments:

 

Primary Argument: The Governing Body of the local jurisdiction or any member or members of that Governing Body, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of these voters and associations may file a written argument for or against any measure.

 

Rebuttal Arguments:   When an argument in favor and an argument against a measure have been selected, the elections official will send copies to the authors of those arguments in order for them to prepare and submit rebuttal arguments.   The authors of the primary arguments may also choose to authorize in writing any other person or persons to prepare, submit, or sign the rebuttal argument.

 

Where to File Arguments:

 

Primary and Rebuttal Arguments both in favor of and against a County ballot measure (a measure placed on the ballot by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors), a School District measure, or a Special District (i.e. Water, Sanitary, Health Care) measure shall be submitted in writing at the following address:

 

San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer
Registration - Elections Division
40 Tower Road
San Mateo, CA 94402
650.312.5222

Primary and Rebuttal Arguments both in favor of and against a City ballot measure shall be submitted in writing to the City Clerk of that City or Town:

 

Cities in San Mateo County
Town of Atherton 91 Ashfield Rd. Atherton, CA 94027 650.752.0500	City of Belmont One Twin Pines Lane Belmont, CA 94002 650.595.7413	City of Brisbane 50 Park Place Brisbane, CA 94005 415.508.2100	City of Burlingame 501 Primrose Ave. Burlingame, CA 94010 650.558.7200
Town of Colma 1198 El Camino Real Colma, CA 94014 650.997-8300	City of Daly City 333 90th St. Daly city, CA 94015 650.991.8000	City of East Palo Alto 2415 University Ave. East Palo Alto, CA 94303 650.853.3100	City of Foster City 610 Foster City Blvd. Foster City, CA 94404 650.286.3200
City of Half Moon Bay 501 Main St. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650.726-8270	Town of Hillsborough 1600 Floribunda Ave. Hillsborough, CA 94010 650.375.7400	City of Menlo Park 701 Laurel St. Menlo Park, CA 94025 650.330.6620	City of Millbrae 621 Magnolia Ave. Millbrae, CA 94030 650.259.2334
City of Pacifica 170 Santa Maria Ave. Pacifica, CA 94044 650.738.7300	Town of Portola Valley 765 Portola Rd. Portola Valley, CA 94028 650.851.1700	City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Rd. Redwood City, CA 94063 650.780.7220	City of San Bruno 567 El Camino Real San Bruno, CA 94066 650.616.7058
City of San Carlos 600 Elm St. San Carlos, CA 94070 650.802.4100	City of San Mateo 330 w. 20th Ave. San Mateo, CA 94403 650.522.7040	City of South San Francisco 400 grand Ave. (94080) South San Francisco, CA 94083 650.877.8500	Town of Woodside 2955 Woodside Rd. Woodside, CA 94062 650.851.6790

 

How to Title an Argument:

Printed arguments submitted to voters shall be titled either "Argument in Favor of Measure ___" or "Argument Against Measure ___", and "Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure ____" or "Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure ___" respectively.

 

Word Count:

No primary argument shall exceed 300 words and no rebuttal argument shall exceed 250 words in length.

The above requirements, as well as more information regarding the Initiative and Referendum process, can be referenced through the California Elections Code, Division 9. You may view this code online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

 

Ballot Argument Submittal Form

 

This form is to be used to submit arguments for County measures, School District measures and Special District Measures and filed with the County Elections Office.  

If you are submitting an argument for a City measure, contact your City Clerk for the municipal ballot argument form and applicable procedures.

 

Ballot Argument Submittal Form

 

Rebuttal Argument Submittal Form

 

A separate form is used to submit rebuttal arguments for County measures, School District measures and Special District Measures and it is filed with the County Elections Office. Please contact Megan Asmus at (650) 312-5293 or email her at masmus@smcare.org to request the rebuttal argument submittal form.

If you are submitting an rebuttal argument for a City measure, contact your City Clerk for the municipal ballot rebuttal argument form and applicable procedures.