REDWOOD CITY - The San Mateo County Elections Office will hold a practical workshop entitled, “The Mechanics of Running for Public Office.” The seminar will be held on Wednesday, June 30 th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the downtown Redwood City offices of Warren Slocum, Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County, 555 County Center on the 3 rd floor.

“This is an opportunity for any candidate running for office, anyone considering a run for office, key staff and volunteers of any campaign (candidate or measure), or any member of the public to come and learn about the about the rules, deadlines, materials and processes that apply to and support a campaign,” explained Slocum. San Mateo County Elections Division staff will be available to answer questions and give brief descriptions of candidate filing, voter registration, absentee voting, Election Day procedures, and tools available to all campaigns.

Candidates considering a bid for a number of city council, school districts, and the MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District will be eligible to run in November and they are encouraged to attend. “Our goal is to demystify the process and encourage participation,” said Slocum.

Voters can find additional information on the Elections’ website, www.shapethefuture.org, where web visitors can listen to an online radio interview with Slocum, the Chief Elections Officer, talk about the upcoming workshop or download the agenda.

The Mechanics of Running for Public Office or Supporting a Measure on the Ballot

Getting a Head Start on November 2, 2004

Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Registration-Elections Division
40 Tower Road
San Mateo
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
(approximately)

I. Welcome/Introductions

II. Becoming A Candidate

A. Types of Offices (Qualifications & Required Forms)

1. Municipal ( Candidates for City offices will file with their City Clerk )

2. Local School District

3. Local Special District ( Candidates for MidPeninsula Regional Open
Space District will file with the District Clerk )

4. Write-in Candidate

a. Filing Requirements Differ

B. Ballot Designation Options for All offices – EC §13107

C. Established Filing Periods (All Offices)

1. Candidacy/Nominations E-113 to E-88

a. Required Signatures: City, Harbor District, and MidPeninsula Regional

Open Space District candidates

b. Extension if eligible Incumbent does not file E-87 to E-83

2. Write–in Candidacy E-54 to E-14

3. Appointments are encouraged and available upon request.

III. Sample and Official Ballots

A. Sample Ballot Pamphlet

1. Candidate’s Statement format/word count

a. Simple Paragraph format, plain text

b. Arguments and Rebuttals look different than Statements

c. Page Format (200 word vs. 400 word)

2. Cost – based on translation of statements into required languages, # of
statements per page for each jurisdiction and # of registered voters
receiving statement; past billing practice modified in hopes of
reducing candidate fees

3. Required Translations – Voting Rights Act (Section 203 of the Voting
Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973aa – 1a)

4. Confidentiality (EC §13311)

5. Public Review Period (EC §13313)

6. Challenges in Court (EC §§13313, 13314)

7. Indigency Procedures when a Candidate can’t afford (EC §13309)

8. Withdrawal deadline (based upon initial close of candidacy period)

9. Sample Ballot Pamphlet Mailing Period (E-40 to E-10)

B. Official Ballot

1. Order of Names on Ballot – SOS Drawing

a. Rotation on ballot – applies to County wide offices only

C. League of Women Voters and Smart Voter

D. Web pages – www.shapethefuture.org www.smartvoter.org

IV. Decisions to make regarding your campaign

A. Financial Threshold requirement to form “Qualified” Committee (Government
Code)

1. FPPC Intention (form 501) and Committee Organization (Form 410)

2. Already have a committee from past election? Re-designate for future

3. Campaign Limits – who decides for local offices?

4. Prop. 34 and its effect on local offices (Independent Expenditures, surplus
funds, etc.)

5. Filing Schedules for pre-election and semi-annual statements (Form 460)

a. FPPC Contact Information/Manuals/Forms www.fppc.ca.gov

B. Registered Voter File Available Data/Media/Cost

1. Formats and Prices

2. Who is eligible to receive data?

3. How to obtain? Sample Application

C. Campaigning

1. Elections Code Divisions 18 & 20 both contain many rules regarding voter
registration drives, absentee voting, and electioneering.

V. Voter Registration

A. Deadlines for elections – law and 15-day close

B. Registering People to Vote

C. Where are forms available?

VI. Absentee Voting

A. Who can apply? Any registered voter.

B. Absentee Voting Period (E-29 through Election Day)

C. Absentee Ballot Applications by Mail, Fax, or E-mail (E-29 – E-7)

D. Circulating and Collecting Applications

1. Uniform Guidelines from Secretary of State

2. Timeframe for submitting to elections office

3. Processing

E. Permanent Absentee Voters - # of Perms & Processes

F. Phone campaigning on Election Day - Increases Provisional Voting

VII. Election Day

A. Information available at the polls, on the Internet, via Fax and E-mail

B. What to expect from Election Officers / Field Technicians

C. Electioneering and Campaign Activities – EC Div. 18

D. Exit Polling

E. Polling Place Lists

F. Maps

VIII. After the Election

A. Certification – EC Div. 15, Chapter 4

1. When? – EC §15372

2. Elections Official certifies votes

3. Governing Body declares election

B. Taking Office

1. Consolidation rules – EC §§10411, 10418

2. Cities – EC §10262 ONLY if City does its own canvass

3. Special Districts – EC §10554 (first Friday in December)

4. School Districts – Education Code §5017 (first Friday in December)