§ 16460 Vote Counting Challenges

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says a contest can be challenged only when a counting mistake, error, or wrongdoing in a precinct changed who won.

Key Takeaways

•Only contests (elections) can be challenged.
•There must be a mistake, error, or misconduct in counting votes.
•The mistake has to be big enough to change the election result.

Example

In a city council race, 12 votes were recorded for Candidate A instead of Candidate B in one precinct, and that mistake switched the election from B to A.

Because the wrong count in that precinct changed the winner, the contest can be disputed under this law.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 16460 Vote Counting Challenges

This article applies only to contests on the ground that due to mistake, error, or misconduct the votes in any precinct were so incorrectly counted as to change the result. (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

contests mistake error misconduct incorrectly counted change the result

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 16460.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References