INITIATIVE PROCESS – IN A NUTSHELL

The following information was provided by the Elk Grove City Clerk's office.


INITIATIVE PROCESS – IN A NUTSHELL


(Important note: This is only a PARTIAL SUMMARY to provide citizens with a basic/general understanding of a very complicated election process; BEFORE proceeding with the initiative process, contact the City Clerk for additional information at 916-478-2202, 8401 Laguna Palms Way, 1st Floor, Elk Grove, CA 95758.)

PROPONENTS:
(1) Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition accompanied by the written text of the initiative signed by at least 1 and not more than 3 proponents (and MAY be accompanied by a written statement not in excess of 500 words setting forth the reasons for the proposed petition). File the Notice of Intent with the City Clerk, at 8401 Laguna Palms Way, 1st Floor, Elk Grove; and

(2) Request that a ballot title and summary be prepared by the City Attorney; this written request shall be accompanied by the address of the person proposing the measure; and

(3) Payment of $200 fee for processing of an initiative petition for any municipal measure (to be refunded if the measure qualifies for the ballot within one year). This fee is paid at the time of filing the Notice of Intent with the City Clerk.

CITY:
The City Clerk will transmit a copy of the proposed measure to the City Attorney who will prepare a ballot title and summary within 15 days of the date the Notice of Intent was filed with the City Clerk.
►The City Clerk will provide a copy of the ballot title and summary to the proponents.

PROPONENTS:
Publish notice of intent, title, and summary one time in the Elk Grove Citizen newspaper. File a copy of the notice, title and summary as published (with an affidavit from the newspaper certifying to the publication) to City Clerk within 10 days of the date of publication.

CITY:
The City Clerk will obtain the number of registered voters in the city of Elk Grove as last reported by the Sacramento County Elections Official to the Secretary of State effective at the time the notice was published and will provide this information to the proponents.

PROPONENTS:
Submit 2 copies of the draft/blank petition to the City Clerk for initial review prior to circulation.

BEFORE the petition can be circulated, the person(s) in charge of signature gathering, and all circulators, must execute and submit a signed statement acknowledging that he/she knows it is a misdemeanor to allow the signatures on an initiative petition to be used for any purpose other than qualification of the proposed measure for the ballot.

AFTER publication and AFTER City Clerk review of the draft petition format you may commence circulation of the petitions for signatures of current Elk Grove registered voters.

File in the City Clerk’s Office all sections (at one time) of the petition within 180 days from the date of ►receipt of the title and summary.

Minimum number of valid signatures from registered voters in the city of Elk Grove to qualify an initiative petition is 10% (to qualify for a special election 15% is required).

As of April 13, 2010 – Elk Grove Reg. Voters = 71,406
10% = 7,141
15% = 10,711