ARTICLE 4. Canvass of Ballots and Returns [10260. - 10266.]

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC 4.

in effect

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10260. Section 10260.

The votes shall be counted, the result of the votes cast shall be posted, the supplies and records of the election shall be returned to the city elections official and shall be disposed of by him or her in accordance with the provisions of this code governing elections generally, so far as they may be applicable.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10261. Section 10261.

The city elections official, or a canvassing board appointed by him or her, shall count the votes cast by vote by mail voters. The city elections official or board shall commence this count as soon as the polls close on the day of election, and the count shall continue, for not less than six hours each day providing ballots remain to be counted, until all vote by mail voter ballots have been received within the time provided by law. The result of the vote by mail vote count shall be included with the canvass of returns from the precincts. The canvassing board, if any, shall be appointed, and the vote by mail vote count shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 15, insofar as that chapter is not inconsistent with this section.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10262. Section 10262.

The canvass shall be conducted by the elections official. Sections 15302 and 15303 shall govern the conduct of the canvass. Upon the completion of the canvass, the elections official shall certify the results to the governing body. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the canvass shall be completed by the elections official no later than the fourth Friday after the election. Upon completion of the canvass, the elections official shall certify the results to the governing body which shall, no later than the fourth Friday after the election, comply with the applicable provisions of Section 10263. (b) For a consolidated election, the city elections official, upon receipt of the results of the election from the elections official conducting the election, shall certify the results to the governing body which shall, no later than the next regularly scheduled city council meeting following presentation of the 28-day canvass of the returns, or at a special meeting called for this purpose, comply with the applicable provisions of Section 10263.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10263. Section 10263.

Upon the completion of the canvass and before installing the new officers, the governing body shall adopt a resolution reciting the fact of the election and the other matters that are enumerated in Section 10264. The governing body shall declare elected the persons for whom the highest number of votes were cast for each office. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the governing body shall meet at its usual place of meeting no later than the fourth Friday after the election to declare the results and to install the newly elected officers. (b) For a consolidated election, the governing body shall meet at its usual place of meeting no later than the next regularly scheduled city council meeting following presentation of the 28-day canvass of the returns, or at a special meeting called for this purpose, to declare the results and to install the newly elected officers.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10264. Section 10264.

As soon as the result of the election is declared, the elections official of the governing body shall enter on its records a statement of the result. The statement shall show: (a) The whole number of votes cast in the city. (b) The names of the persons voted for. (c) The measures voted upon. (d) For what office each person was voted for. (e) The number of votes given at each precinct to each person and for and against each measure. (f) The number of votes given in the city to each person and for and against each measure.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10265. Section 10265.

The elections official shall immediately sign and deliver to each person elected a certificate of election. He or she shall also administer to each person elected the oath of office prescribed in the California Constitution.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10266. Section 10266.

Recount of votes in municipal elections shall be governed by Article 1 (commencing with Section 15600) of Chapter 12 of Division 15.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026