Bill Text: CA SB437 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Presidential elections: candidates.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-07-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 72, Statutes of 2023. [SB437 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB437-Enrolled.html

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Enrolled  June 30, 2023

Passed  IN  Senate  April 13, 2023

Passed  IN  Assembly  June 27, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 437

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Introduced by Senator Dodd

February 13, 2023

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An act to amend Section 13104 of, and to add Section 6901.5 to, the Elections Code, relating to elections.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 437, Dodd. Presidential elections: candidates.

Existing law provides for the statewide election of a slate of electors to vote in the electoral college for the President and Vice President of the United States. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to place the names of each qualified political party’s candidates for President and Vice President on the ballot for the ensuing general election.

This bill would require each qualified political party, on or before the 75th day before a presidential general election, to notify the Secretary of State of the names of the party’s nominees for President and Vice President or, if the party has not held its national convention by the 75th day before the election, the party’s apparent nominees for President and Vice President.

If a candidate for elective office changes their name within one year of an election, existing law prohibits printing the candidate’s new name on the ballot for that election unless the name change was made by marriage or a court decree.

This bill would exempt candidates for President and Vice President from that prohibition.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 6901.5 is added to the Elections Code, to read:

6901.5.

 On or before the 75th day before an election when electors for the President and Vice President of the United States will be chosen, each political party qualified to participate in the election shall notify the Secretary of State of the names of that party’s nominees for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States. If a qualified political party has not held its national convention by the 75th day before the election, the party shall notify the Secretary of State of the names of the party’s apparent nominees for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.

SEC. 2.

 Section 13104 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

13104.

 (a) If a candidate changes their name within one year of any election, the new name shall not appear upon the ballot unless the change was made by either of the following:

(1) Marriage.

(2) Decree of any court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) This section does not apply to candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.