March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election, Campaign Guide: Qualifications and Requirements for County Central Committees

Specific Offices to Which This Section Applies

• Democratic Party County Central Committee, 1st Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Democratic Party County Central Committee, 2nd Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Democratic Party County Central Committee, 3rd Supervisorial District (3 seats open)
• Democratic Party County Central Committee, 4th Supervisorial District (4 seats open)
• Democratic Party County Central Committee, 5th Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Green Party County Council (7 at-large seats open)
• Peace and Freedom Party County Central Committee (7 at-large seats open)
• Republican Party County Central Committee, 1st Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Republican Party County Central Committee, 2nd Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Republican Party County Central Committee, 3rd Supervisorial District (3 seats open)
• Republican Party County Central Committee, 4th Supervisorial District (5 seats open)
• Republican Party County Central Committee, 5th Supervisorial District (4 seats open)

Term of Office

County Central Committee and County Council Members are elected at each presidential primary election and serve 4-year terms.

• ▶ Elections Code §§ 7225, 7420, 7670, 7750

Qualifications

A candidate for County Central Committee/County Council shall:

• be a citizen of the United States*; and
• be a registered voter of the jurisdiction*; and
• be qualified to vote for that office when nomination papers are issued, and continuously throughout the term of office*; and
• meet the following registration requirements for the political party whose nomination they are seeking†:
  • been continuously registered with the political party for not less than three months immediately prior to completing the Declaration of Candidacy (or, if eligible to register for less than three months, for as long as he or she has been eligible to vote in California); and
  • not been registered with any other qualified political party within twelve months immediately prior to filing the Declaration of Candidacy.

*Exception 1: The Sonoma County Democratic Party allows non-citizens to serve on their committee.
†Exception 2: A county central committee, subject to the bylaws of its state central committee, may establish different requirements for the length of time that a candidate must:

• have been continuously registered with that political party prior to completing the Declaration of Candidacy; and
• not have been registered with any other qualified political party

• ▶ Elections Code §§ 7209, 7214, 7215, 7407, 7412, 7413, 7654, 7659, 7660, 7852, 7854, 7855, 8001

Filing Requirements

Filing Fee

There is no filing fee for County Central Committee offices.

Signatures-in-Lieu of Paying Filing Fee

Because there is no filing fee for County Central Committee offices, there are no signatures-in-lieu.

Nomination Documents and Procedures

Declaration of Candidacy

Each candidate is required to file a Declaration of Candidacy between September 29, 2023, and December 8, 2023. The Declaration shall be obtained from the county elections official of the county in which the candidate resides and is a voter. The Declaration of Candidacy must be executed in the office of the elections official unless the candidate, in a written statement signed and dated by the candidate, designates a third party to obtain the Declaration from the county elections official and deliver it to the candidate. Such written statement shall state that the candidate is aware the Declaration must be properly executed and delivered to the county elections official from whom it was obtained not later than the close of business on December 8, 2023.

• ▶ Elections Code §§ 333, 7209, 8001, 8020, 8028, 8040, 8042, 8064

Nomination Papers

Each candidate for County Central Committee or County Council is required to file a Nomination Petition between September 29, 2023, and December 8, 2023. Democratic and Republican candidates must obtain at least 20 and no more than 40 signatures. Green and Peace and Freedom candidates must obtain at least 20 and no more than 30 signatures. Signers for candidates for all parties must be registered voters in the district or political subdivision and be affiliated with the political party of the office the candidate is seeking. Each section of the Nomination Petition shall be delivered to the county elections official of the county where circulated, not later than the close of business on December 8, 2023.

There is no extension of the filing period for County Central Committee or County Council offices.

• ▶ Elections Code §§ 100, 102, 333, 7227, 7422, 7672, 7772, 7776, 7914, 8020, 8062, 8068

Ballot Designation Worksheet

In order to facilitate review of a candidate's proposed ballot designation, the candidate shall submit, at the time of filing his or her proposed ballot designation on the Declaration of Candidacy, a completed Ballot Designation Worksheet on a form provided by the elections official.

• ▶ Elections Code § 13107.3

Statement of Qualifications

Candidates for county central committees do not have the option to submit Statements of Qualifications.

Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700)

Candidates for county central are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.

Code of Fair Campaign Practices (Voluntary)

At the time an individual files their Declaration of Candidacy, Nomination Petition, or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for public office, the county elections official shall give the individual a copy of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

• ▶ Elections Code § 20440

Mass Mailings

A copy of Government Code § 84305 shall be provided to each candidate or their agent at the time of filing the Declaration of Candidacy.

• ▶ Elections Code § 16; Government Code § 84305

Campaign Committee Filing Obligations

See the Campaign Disclosure Requirements section of this Guide or Campaign Disclosure Manual 2 (August 2023 Edition) put out by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). Note that candidates for County Central Committee offices have far fewer campaign finance obligations (Form 470 not required, Statement of Economic Interests not required, etc.) than other state or local offices.