Article XIII — Elections

General Municipal Elections for the election of officers and for such other purposes as the City Council may prescribe shall be held in the City on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year. The first such General Municipal Election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2024. All other municipal elections that may be held by authority of this Charter, or of any law, shall be known as Special Municipal Elections.

(Amended pursuant to elections held November 5, 1974; March 6, 1979; November 6, 2018)

The City Council shall, by ordinance, establish six electoral districts which shall be used for all elections of members of the City Council. The electoral districts shall be as nearly equal in population as practicable and such redistricting shall be established as provided in this Charter and in compliance with all applicable laws. The judicially-approved electoral district map adopted by the City Council in Resolution No. 15-019 on March 30, 2015, shall remain in effect through the 2021 City Council elections. The electoral district map shall be redrawn, if necessary, after receipt of the results of the 2020 Census as set forth in this section. The initial 2021 redistricting process shall be conducted and a final map adopted by an Independent Redistricting Commission. The City Council shall approve the final map by ordinance and without amendment. The Independent Redistricting Commission and the City shall establish a process for developing the electoral district map that will comply at a minimum with California Elections Code section 10010 and shall include at least two public hearings on a proposal to establish the electoral district boundaries prior to a public hearing at which the City Council may vote to approve the electoral district map. The City will maintain information on its website for the districting process where notices, agendas, proposed maps, among other items, will be posted. The districting process website shall include interactive tools for public participation. Official required notices and agendas (but not agenda material) will be translated into all languages required under the federal Voting Rights Act. In order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, persons who accept appointment to the Independent Redistricting Commission shall, at the time of their appointment, file a written declaration with the City Clerk stating that they will not seek election to a seat on the City Council of the City of Santa Barbara until the after the redistricting following the 2030 Census. The previous sentence does not apply to seeking election to the office of Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara. The City Clerk shall not accept candidacy papers from any person filing such a declaration who is appointed to be a member of the Independent Redistricting Commission. The members of the Independent Redistricting Commission shall be appointed by the City Council after receipt of the results of the 2020 Census and on or before April 1, 2021. The Independent Redistricting Commission shall be composed of three retired state or federal judges who apply, are willing to serve, are not residents of Santa Barbara County, and who are qualified voters of the State of California. The Independent Redistricting Commission shall adopt and refer to the City Council, a redistricting map on or before November 1, 2021. The redistricting map of the Independent Redistricting Commission as approved by the City Council shall be subject to referendum. The redistricting map of the Independent Redistricting Commission shall remain in full force and effect through the 2031 City Council elections. The City shall appropriate an amount for work of the Independent Redistricting Commission equal to the amount expended by the City for

Section 1304 its redistricting consultant during development of the judicially-approved electoral district map adopted by the City Council in Resolution No. 15-019 on March 30, 2015, adjusted for inflation according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area CPl. All City redistricting actions taken after 2031 shall be conducted by a person or entity selected by the City Council in accordance with a process to be established by ordinance or resolution of the City Council. (Approved by election held November 6, 2018)

All elections shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended, for the holding of Municipal Elections so far as the same are not in conflict with this Charter. The City Council may by ordinance supplement the provisions of said Elections Code insofar as the same are not in conflict therewith.

(Amended pursuant to election held April 15, 1969)

There are hereby reserved to the electors of the City the powers of the initiative and referendum and of the recall of municipal elective officers. The provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, as the same now exist or hereafter may be amended, governing the initiative and referendum and the recall of municipal officers, shall apply to the use thereof in the City so far as such provisions of the Elections Code are not in conflict with the provisions of this Charter.

Each candidate for elective City office shall be proposed by the filing of a nomination paper signed by either: (i) not less than 50 qualified electors from within the election district that the candidate seeks to represent, or (ii) not less than 100 from within any and all districts in entire City. Only one candidate may be named in any one nomination paper. No qualified elector may

Section 1306 sign more than one nomination paper for the same office, and in the event he or she does so his or her signature shall count only on the first nomination paper filed which contains the signature. Nomination papers subsequently filed and containing his or her signature shall be considered as though the signature does not appear thereon. Any qualified elector may circulate a nomination paper.

(Amended pursuant to elections held June 4, 1974; November 6, 2019)

The names of all candidates for elective City office, including incumbents and all other candidates, shall be listed in random order on the ballot in the manner determined by the City Council by ordinance.

(Approved by election held June 4, 1974)

The City Council may, by resolution, authorize the conduct of an election by mail. The procedure to be followed will be in accordance with provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California.

(Approved by election held November 2, 1982)

CHARTER OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA