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HomePublic Utilities CodeDiv. 6Ch. 3Art. 2.5§ 11850 Large District Board Elections

§ 11850 Large District Board Elections

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

§ 11850 Large District Board Elections

This law changes how some big districts pick their leaders. If a district is very large or has run its own electric system for a while, leaders must be chosen by smaller areas (wards) instead of the whole district.

Key Takeaways

  • •Big districts (1 million+ people) must have 7 leaders instead of 5.
  • •In some big districts, leaders are chosen by smaller areas (wards), not the whole district.
  • •To run for leader, you need signatures from people in your small area—either 1% of voters or 10 people, whichever is less (but no more than 20).
  • •People collecting signatures must live in the same small area and can only get signatures from voters there.

Example

A big city with over 1 million people has a board that makes decisions about electricity.

Before, everyone in the city voted for all board members. Now, the city is split into smaller areas, and each area picks its own leader. This way, smaller groups have a bigger say in who represents them.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 11850 Large District Board Elections

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in any district formed prior to January 1, 1974, and containing a population of 1,000,000 or more on that date, the number of directors on the district board shall be increased from five to seven as provided in this article. (b) In any district to which subdivision (a) is applicable and in any district which has owned and operated an electric distribution system for at least eight years and which has a population of 250,000, or more, candidates for the office of director shall be elected by the voters of the ward each represents and shall not be voted upon at large. Nomination papers may be circulated only within the ward from which the candidate is to be elected, and shall be signed either by 1 percent of the voters within the ward or by 10 voters, whichever is the lesser number, but in no event by more than 20 voters within the ward. District circulators shall be residents of the ward in which they seek signatures and may obtain signatures only from registered voters residing within that ward. (Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 985, Sec. 22.)

Last verified: January 11, 2026

Key Terms

directorsdistrict boardwardelectric distribution system

Related Statutes

  • § 11851 Ward Boundary Division
  • § 11852.5 Ward Election Appointment Authority
  • § 11857 Sacramento Municipal Utility District Board Size
  • § 11823 Ward Boundary Adjustments
  • § 11852 Additional District Director Election

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Public Utilities Code. Section 11850.
View Official Source