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County Of Sonoma › Administrative Support & Fiscal Services › Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters › Registrar of Voters › Elections › 16 Code of Fair Cmpgn Practices
Registrar of Voters

November 7, 2023, Consolidated Election, Campaign Guide: Code of Fair Campaign Practices

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(as found In Chapter 5 of Division 20 of the California Elections Code)

Article 1. General Intent

  1. The Legislature declares that the purpose of this chapter is to encourage every candidate for public office in this state to subscribe to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

It is the ultimate intent of the Legislature that every candidate for public office in this state who subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices will follow the basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play in order that, after vigorously contested, but fairly conducted campaigns, the citizens of this state may exercise their constitutional right to vote, free from dishonest and unethical practices which tend to prevent the full and free expression of the will of the voters.

The purpose in creating the Code of Fair Campaign Practices is to give voters guidelines in determining fair play and to encourage candidates to discuss issues instead of untruths or distortions.

Article 2. Definitions

  1. As used in this chapter, "Code" means the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

Article 3. Code of Fair Campaign Practices

  1. At the time an individual is issued his or her declaration of candidacy, nomination papers, or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for public office, the elections official shall give the individual a blank form of the code and a copy of this chapter.  The elections official shall inform each candidate for public office that subscription to the code is voluntary.

In the case of a committee making an independent expenditure, as defined in Section 82031 of the Government Code, the Secretary of State shall provide a blank form and a copy of this chapter to the individual filing, in accordance with Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code, an initial campaign statement on behalf of the committee.

  1. The Secretary of State shall print, or cause to be printed, blank forms of the code.  The Secretary of State shall supply the forms to the elections officials in quantities and at times requested by the elections officials.
  2. The elections official shall accept, at all times prior to the election, all completed forms that are properly subscribed to by a candidate for public office and shall retain them for public inspection until 30 days after the election.
  3. Every code subscribed to by a candidate for public office pursuant to this chapter is a public record open for public inspection.
  4. In no event shall a candidate for public office be required to subscribe to or endorse the code.