Chapter 2.56 — ARGUMENTS ON CITY MEASURES
Whittier Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Whittier
2.56.010 - Arguments for and against measure.¶
A.
The legislative body or any member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body, either alone or jointly with any other entity, bona fide association of citizens, individual voters, or any combination thereof; and/or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on a city measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of voters and associations, may file a written argument for or against any city measure.
B.
No argument shall exceed a total of three hundred words in length.
C.
The city elections official shall enclose a printed copy of both arguments with each sample ballot.
(Ord. 2812 § 1(part), 2002)
2.56.020 - Rebuttal arguments.¶
At the time the city council calls for an election at which a city measure is to be considered by the voters, it shall determine by resolution whether rebuttal arguments regarding such measure shall be permitted. If rebuttal arguments are permitted, the following provisions shall govern such rebuttal arguments:
A.
The person(s) and/or entity(ies) filing the argument in favor of or against the city measure, may prepare and submit a rebuttal argument. The city council may, by resolution, permit the authors of arguments in favor of or against the city measure to authorize in writing a rebuttal argument to be prepared and submitted by other person(s) and/or entity(ies). The city council may by resolution, permit any other entity, bona fide association of citizens, individual voters eligible to vote on the measure, or any combination thereof, to submit a rebuttal argument.
B.
No such rebuttal argument shall exceed a total of two hundred and fifty words and shall be filed with the elections official not more than ten days after the final date for filing direct arguments. Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments. Each rebuttal argument shall immediately follow the direct argument which it seeks to rebut.
(Ord. 2812 § 1(part), 2002)
2.56.030 - Copies of arguments.¶
If an argument is submitted to the city elections official against a city measure, and an argument has been filed in favor of the measure, the elections official shall immediately send copies of the argument against the measure to the person(s) and/or entity(ies) filing the argument in favor of the city measure. The elections official shall send copies of the argument in favor of the measure to the person(s) and/or entity(ies) filing the argument against the city measure.
(Ord. 2812 § 1(part), 2002)
2.56.040 - Priority for selection of arguments to be printed and distributed to voters.¶
If more than one argument for or more than one argument against any city measure is submitted to the city elections official within the time prescribed, he/she shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the arguments against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. In selecting the argument the city elections official shall give preference and priority, in the order named, to the arguments of the following:
A.
The legislative body, or member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body, either alone or jointly with any other entity, bona fide association of citizens, individual voters, or any combination thereof.
B.
The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure.
C.
Bona fide associations of citizens, either alone or in combination with individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.
D.
Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.
This priority shall apply unless the city council, by resolution, requires that some other priority shall apply in any particular election.
(Ord. 2812 § 1(part), 2002)
(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)
2.56.050 - Priority for selection of rebuttal arguments to be printed and distributed to voters.¶
If rebuttal arguments are permitted, and more than one rebuttal argument to an argument in favor or to an argument against any city measure is submitted to the city elections official within the time prescribed, he/she shall select one of the rebuttal arguments to the argument in favor and one of the rebuttal arguments to the argument against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. In selecting the rebuttal argument the city elections official shall give preference and priority, in the order named, to the rebuttal arguments of the following:
A.
The legislative body, or member or members of the legislative body authorized by that body, either alone or jointly with any other entity, bona fide association of citizens, individual voters, or any combination thereof.
B.
The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure and who filed a primary argument regarding the measure, or the person(s) or entity(ies) authorized in writing by the author(s) of a primary argument if permitted by resolution applying to that election.
C.
Bona fide associations of citizens either alone or in combination with individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.
D.
Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.
This priority shall apply unless the city council, by resolution, requires that some other priority shall apply in any particular election.
(Ord. 2812 § 1(part), 2002)
(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)
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