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HomeElections CodeDiv. 12Ch. 3Art. 5§ 12281 Polling Place Change Notice

§ 12281 Polling Place Change Notice

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12281 Polling Place Change Notice

This law tells election officials what to do when a regular voting place can’t be used – they must pick a new spot and let voters know, either by mail if there’s time or by posting a sign on election day.

Key Takeaways

  • •If a polling place can’t be used and officials have enough time, they must mail a notice to all voters about the new location.
  • •If there isn’t enough time for a mail notice, officials must post a sign near the original site and move the vote to the nearest alternative on election day.
  • •These rules don’t apply when voting is done at vote centers.

Example

A middle school that was supposed to be the voting site floods the night before the election.

Because the problem is known early enough, the elections official sends a mailed notice to every voter in that area telling them the new polling place. If the flooding was discovered the morning of the vote, the official puts a sign near the school and moves the vote to the closest available location.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12281 Polling Place Change Notice

(a) If, for any valid reason, the polling place designated for any precinct cannot be used, and this fact is known in sufficient time to allow a mailed notice to be received before the election, the elections official may designate another polling place and shall mail, to each voter in the precinct a notice showing this change. (b) If the information is not known in sufficient time for a mailing pursuant to subdivision (a), either the elections official or, in the case of an emergency, the precinct board on the day of election, shall designate another polling place as near the place first designated as possible, post notice on or near the place first designated, and conduct the election at the new location. (c) This section does not apply to elections conducted using vote centers. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 33. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

polling placeelections officialprecinctmailed noticeprecinct board

Related Statutes

  • § 12286 Precinct And Polling Setup
  • § 12285 Mobilehome Polling Place Rules
  • § 6592 Election Official Circulator Restrictions
  • § 12282 Tax-Exempt Polling Place Use
  • § 12287 Candidate Residence Polling Ban

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 12281.
View Official Source