Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 20970 - Signature Withdrawal

(a) A voter who has signed an initiative, referendum, or recall petition may submit a written request to the appropriate elections official to request that their name removed from the petition.

(b) An elections official who receives a written request from a voter who wishes to remove their signature from a petition shall use the following guidelines when reviewing a written request:

(1) The written request shall not be accepted if any of the following are missing from the request:

(A) The identification of the petition - either a name or a number.

(B) The signature of the voter.

(C) The current residence address of the voter.

(D) A statement that the voter seeks to withdraw a signature after signing a petition.

(2) A pre-printed request to withdraw a signature from a petition is valid if all of the required information is included, and the request contains the signature of the voter.

(3) If the signature on the written request does not compare with the signature in the voter's registration record, the withdrawal shall not be accepted.

(4) The written request must be received prior to the date the petition is filed. Any written request to withdraw received after the date the petition is filed shall not be accepted. This section shall not apply to a supplemental withdrawal period for a recall petition.

(5) If the written request is dated the date the petition is filed, or after, but is received prior to the day the petition is filed, the request may be accepted.

(6) If the written request is dated prior to the date the petition section is circulated containing the signature and the request is received prior to the date the petition section is filed, the request may be accepted.

(7) The written request may be received by fax or email, but the request must be received prior to the day the petition is filed in order to be accepted.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 20970

1. New article 7 (section 20970) and section filed 3-15-2022; operative 3-15-2022 (Register 2022, No. 11).

Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code. Reference: Sections 103, 9602, 11108 and 11303, Elections Code; and Section 12172.5, Government Code.

1. New article 7 (section 20970) and section filed 3-15-2022; operative 3/15/2022 (Register 2022, No. 11)