PART 5. SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD ELECTIONS [10600. - 10604.]

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC 5.

in effect

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10600. Section 10600.

When one member of the governing board of a school district or community college district is to be elected, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. When two or more members are to be elected, the two or more candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Each voter may vote for as many candidates as there are members to be elected. The ballot shall contain instructions stating the maximum number of candidates for whom each voter may vote.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10601. Section 10601.

Notwithstanding Section 10600, the governing board of any community college district may, by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the board, assign a number to each seat on the board to be selected by lot. Once the numbers are assigned, any candidate for election to the board shall be required to run for a particular numbered seat on the board and be elected by the voters of the district at large.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10602. Section 10602.

(a) The forms for declaration of candidacy for governing board elections shall be in substantially the following form: “I, _____, do hereby declare myself as a candidate for election to the governing board of _____ District, of the County of ____; I am a registered voter; if elected I will qualify and serve to the best of my ability; and I request my name be placed on the official ballots of the district, for the election to be held on the ___ day of ____, 20__. Residence address: ” (b) In an election held under Section 5018 of the Education Code to elect additional governing board members, all candidates for member of the governing board shall also indicate on their declaration of candidacy whether they are candidates for the existing office or for the new offices.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10603. Section 10603.

(a) In any school district or community college district governing board election the name of any person shall be placed on the ballot, subject to Sections 35107 and 72103 of the Education Code, if there is filed with the county elections official having jurisdiction, not more than 113 days nor less than 88 days prior to the election, a declaration of candidacy containing the appropriate information in the blank spaces and signed by the person whose name is thereby to be placed on the ballot. (b) No candidate whose declaration of candidacy has been filed for any school district or community college district governing board election or county board of education election may withdraw as a candidate after the 88th day prior to the election. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in subdivision (d), no person shall file nomination papers for more than one district office, including a county board of education office, at the same election. (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a proposal to form a unified school district is on the same ballot as the election of governing board members of that district, any candidate for a position on the existing governing board may file nomination papers for that position pursuant to subdivision (a) and may, at the same election, also file nomination papers for a position on the governing board of the proposed unified school district.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 10604. Section 10604.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 10603, if a declaration of candidacy for an incumbent member of a school district or community college district governing board or of a county board of education is not filed by 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the election, or is filed but then is withdrawn before 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the election, any person, other than the person who was the incumbent on the 88th day, shall have until 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before an election to file a declaration of candidacy for the elective office. (b) This section is not applicable where there is no incumbent eligible to be elected. If this section is applicable, notwithstanding Section 10603, a candidate whose declaration of candidacy has been filed for any school district or community college district governing board election or county board of education election may withdraw as a candidate until 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before the election.

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