Mountain View Municipal Code Art. VIII Elections

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 13.2026, § 1, adopted June 23, 2026, amended Art. VIII in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Art. VIII, §§ 2.86—2.86.3, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. No. 31.79, adopted July 31, 1979 Ord. No. 5.84, adopted Feb. 14, 1984 Ord. No. 1.94, adopted Jan. 11, 1994; and Ord. No. 6.08, adopted May 27, 2008.

a. When a special election is to be called on an initiative petition for a proposed ordinance, it shall be held within the time as specified in the State Elections Code, and shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California except to the extent that such elections code provisions may be in conflict with a resolution, ordinance, or charter provision of the City.

b. To avoid the holding of more than one election within the City within any six months, the date for holding the special election on such a measure may be fixed at a later date than specified within the Elections Code of the State of California, but at as early a date as practicable after the expiration of six months from the last election that was held within the City. When it is legally possible to hold such a special election within six months prior to a regular election date, the City Council may submit the proposed ordinance at the regular election instead of at a special election.

c. For purposes of this section, an election is deemed to be held within the City whenever such election includes all precincts within the City at the time of said election, regardless of whether the election is held by the City or by some other agency.

d. Section 4020 of the Elections Code of the State of California or its successor shall not be applicable in the City of Mountain View.

(Ord. No. 13.2026, § 1, 6/23/26.)

a. Each candidate for nomination to be elected to any City office shall sign and file with the City Clerk the complete nomination papers and declarations for that office. Nomination papers shall be on a form(s) furnished only by the City Clerk during regular business hours and shall include an affidavit by the candidate that the candidate possesses all necessary legal qualifications to be a candidate for the designated office.

b. The City Clerk shall include with the nomination papers a verification of residency form for the candidate to sign under penalty of perjury confirming that the candidate is qualified as a resident and registered voter of the City to hold the elective office. The candidate shall provide such information required by the City Clerk to confirm that residency affidavit. There are no specifically required items proving residency in the City of Mountain View and/or establishing that the candidate does not reside elsewhere. The candidate may offer information, including but not limited to: home ownership, rental or lease payments, mail service, driver's license, utility payments, etc., to confirm to the City Clerk that the candidate meets the residency requirements of the city charter.

(Ord. No. 13.2026, § 1, 6/23/26.)

a. If the candidate, or authorized designee, files a nominating petition within the time frame specified in the California Elections Code, the City Clerk will issue, at the time of filing, a receipt that documents the date of filing and the total number of signatures that the candidate claims are affixed to the petition.

b. At this time, the City Clerk may request the candidate, or authorized designee, to correct minor clerical errors in the circulated affidavits. Any such correction must be made within two (2) business days of the City Clerk's request. The City Clerk may also request further evidence of residency or voter qualification. The City Clerk shall not accept nomination papers unless nomination papers are complete, satisfactory to the City Clerk and unless the circulator affidavit for each section has been completed and fully executed.

c. No amendments, changes, alterations or corrections of any kind, clerical or otherwise, shall be permitted to be made in any petition after it is filed with and approved by the City Clerk for proceeding to the signature examination phase.

(Ord. No. 13.2026, § 1, 6/23/26.)

a. The selection of arguments for or against any city measure for printing and distribution to voters shall be made by the City Clerk in accordance with California Elections Code Section 9287.

b. In the event that multiple arguments for or against a city measure are submitted by persons or entities within the same preference and priority category identified in California Elections Code Section 9287, the City Clerk shall select the argument to be printed and distributed to voters by random drawing. Authors of the affected arguments shall be provided notice and an opportunity to witness the random drawing.

(Ord. No. 13.2026, § 1, 6/23/26.)