(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the provisions of the Elections Code prescribed for independent nominations shall substantially govern the manner of appointment of circulators, the form of nomination papers and other forms, the securing of signatures, the filing of the candidate’s declaration of candidacy, and all other things necessary to get the name of the candidate upon the ballot. At the time of issuance of nomination papers, the county elections official shall cause to be entered on the first page of each section of the nomination papers the name of the candidate and the office for which he or she is a candidate. The county elections official shall imprint a stamp on the first page of each section of the nomination papers which reads “Official Filing Form,” and shall affix his or her signature. The county elections official shall keep a list containing the name and address of each candidate, the office for which he or she is a candidate, and the date on which the nomination papers were issued, which list shall be a public record.

(b) Circulators may obtain signatures to the nomination paper of any candidate at any time not more than 113 days nor less than 88 days prior to the election. Each section of the nomination papers shall bear the name of a county and only qualified voters of that county shall sign the section. Nomination papers shall be signed either by 1 percent or by 10 of the registered voters from within the district, whichever is the lesser number, but in no event by more than 20 registered voters from within the district. Nomination papers shall be filed with the county elections official of the principal county containing the majority of the population of the ward from which the candidate is seeking election not more than 113 nor less than 88 days before the date of the election and shall be examined by the county elections official. If nomination papers for an incumbent director are not filed by 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the election, the voters shall have until 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before the election to nominate candidates other than the incumbent for that office. As soon as possible under the circumstances, the county elections official shall determine the number of valid signatures. If there are less than 10 valid signatures, the county elections official shall notify the candidate of that fact, and shall accept additional valid signatures at any time prior to the close of the period for circulating nomination papers. Each candidate, at least 88 days prior to the election, shall file a sufficient candidate’s declaration of candidacy with the county elections official with whom he or she filed the nomination papers. The county elections official shall certify the names of all candidates at least 76 days prior to the date of the election so that their names may be placed upon the ballot.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 923, Sec. 181. Effective January 1, 1995.)