BILL NUMBER: SB 712INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Lara FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to amend Section 8605 of the Elections Code, relating to elections. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 712, as introduced, Lara. Elections: write-in candidates. Existing law provides for the name of a person written in on a ballot for a voter-nominated office at a direct primary election to be placed on the general election ballot as a candidate for that office if the person received, at the direct primary election, the highest number of votes cast for the office or the second highest number of votes cast for the office, except as provided. This bill would require that a write-in candidate for a voter-nominated office, in addition to being one of the top two vote-getters, receive votes at the direct primary election equal in number to at least 1% of all votes cast for the office at the last preceding general election at which the office was filled in order for his or her name to be placed on the general election ballot as a candidate for that office. The bill also would make clarifying and conforming changes. This bill would specify that its provisions become operative only if SCA ____ of the 2013-14 Regular Session is approved by the voters. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 8605 of the Elections Code is amended to read: 8605.NoA person whose name has been written in upon a ballot for an office at the direct primary election may not have his or her name placed upon the ballot as a candidate for that office for the ensuing general election unless one of the following is applicable: (a) At that direct primary election he or she received for a partisan office votes equal in number to at least 1 percent of all votes cast for the office at the last preceding general election at which the office was filled. In the case of an office that has not appeared on the ballot since its creation, the requisite number of votes shall equal at least 1 percent of the number of all votes cast for the office that had the least number of votes in the most recent general election in the jurisdiction in which the write-in candidate is seeking office. (b) He or she is an independent nominee for a partisan office pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 8300). (c) At that direct primary election he or she received for a voter-nominated office the highest number of votes cast for that office or the second highest number of votes cast for that office, provided that he or she received votes equal in number to at least 1 percent of all votes cast for the office at the last preceding general election at which the office was filled, except as provided by subdivision (b) of Section 8142 or Section 8807. SEC. 2. This act shall become operative only if Senate Constitutional Amendment ______ of the 2013-14 Regular Session is approved by the voters.