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HomeElections CodeDiv. 9Ch. 2Art. 1§ 9103 Initiative Petition Filing Requirements

§ 9103 Initiative Petition Filing Requirements

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

§ 9103 Initiative Petition Filing Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •Before you start collecting signatures for a big change in your county (like adding new land, merging counties, or breaking up a county), you must tell the county elections office first.
  • •When you tell them, you must give the names and addresses of 1 to 5 people leading the effort and a copy of what you want to change.
  • •You have to pay a fee (up to $200) when you file, but you get the money back if you collect enough signatures within a year.

Example

A group of people in a town want their county to take over a nearby unincorporated area to improve local services.

Before they start asking people to sign their petition, they must tell the county elections office about their plan. They give the names of a few leaders and a copy of their proposal. They pay a $200 fee but will get it back if they collect enough signatures in a year.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9103 Initiative Petition Filing Requirements

(a) Before circulating any initiative petition in a county, or any petition relating to the annexation of territory by a county, the consolidation of counties, or the dissolution of a county, its proponents shall file with the county elections official a notice of intention to do so. The notice shall include the names and business or residence addresses of at least one but not more than five proponents of the petition, and shall be accompanied by the written text of the initiative and a request that a ballot title and summary be prepared. (b) Any person filing a notice of intent with the county elections official shall pay a fee to be established by the board of supervisors not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) to be refunded to the filer if, within one year of the date of filing the notice of intent, the county elections official certifies the sufficiency of the petition. (Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

petitiondissolutionchanging countyannexationconsolidationintentionresidence

Related Statutes

  • § 9101 County Initiative Petition Requirements
  • § 9108 Petition Circulation Requirements
  • § 104 Petition Circulator Declaration Requirements
  • § 2122 Voter Affidavit Precinct Notations
  • § 8203 Superior Court Judge Write-In Petition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 9103.
View Official Source