UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR Independent Nomination November 7, 2000 An independent nominee for President of the United States attains ballot status by qualifying a group of 54 Presidential Electors who pledge their votes to that independent presidential nominee. I. QUALIFICATIONS A. A candidate for Presidential Elector must have a valid voter registration affidavit on file in the county of residence at the time nomination papers are obtained. There are no political affiliation restrictions on electors they need only be registered voters in California. Elections Code §2011 In addition to qualifying the 54 Presidential Electors, the person seeking the independent nomination for President of the United States must be: (1) a natural-born citizen of the United States, (2) at least 35 years of age, and (3) a resident within the United States for 14 years. U.S. Constitution, art. II, §1 (5) II. REQUIREMENTS A. A candidate for whom a nomination paper has been filed as a partisan candidate at a primary election and who is defeated for his or her party nomination at the primary election is ineligible for nomination as an independent candidate. § 8301 B. Circulate nomination papers for signatures between April 28, 2000, and August 11, 2000, and leave them for examination with the county elections official of the county in which the papers were circulated. The nomination papers will be forwarded for filing with the Secretary of State after verification of signatures. § 8403 Whenever a group of candidates for Presidential Elector, equivalent to 54, files a nomination paper with the Secretary of State, the nomination paper may also contain the name of the candidate for U.S. President and U.S. Vice President for whom all of those candidates for Presidential Elector pledge themselves to vote §8303 The nomination papers must be signed by at least 149,692 registered voters (equivalent to 1% of the statewide registration from the November 1998 General Election). §8400 1. All signers must be registered voters of the state. §§100 and 8400 2. Any registered voter who is a candidate may obtain signatures to and sign his or her own nomination papers. §106 (a) 3. Appointment of nomination paper circulators. a. The candidate may appoint circulators to serve, within the county in which the circulators reside, for the purpose of securing signatures to the candidate's nomination papers. §8450 b. Appointed circulators shall be registered voters of the state. §8451 c. The candidate shall file the document evidencing the appointment of circulators with the county elections official on or before the date the nomination papers are left for examination. See Attachment 1 for a suggested format for the Appointment of Circulators form. §§8450 and 8453 4. The nomination paper shall be delivered to the county elections official of the county in which the signers reside and are voters. §8063 and 8403 B. Declaration of Candidacy a. EACH of the 54 candidates for Presidential Elector must complete a Declaration of Candidacy and file it with the county elections official of the county in which he or she is registered to vote. The declaration shall state: (1) The candidate's residence address; (2) That the candidate is a voter in the precinct in which he or she resides; (3) The name of the office sought; i.e., Presidential Elector (4) That he or she will not withdraw as a candidate before the election; (5) That if elected, he or she will qualify for the office. §8550 b. The Declaration of Candidacy shall be left with the county elections official not later than August 11, 2000. §8550 III. GENERAL INFORMATION A. The Secretary of State and county elections officials do not supply forms for the independent nomination of Presidential Elector. However, Attachments 1, 2, and 3 are suggested formats for the Appointment of Circulators, Nomination Paper, and Declaration of Candidacy, respectively. B. Because of the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act, As Amended, the presidential candidate should contact the Federal Election Commission at 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463, or call toll-free 1-800-424-9530 for a copy of the Act, related regulations giving the filing requirements for reporting campaign contributions, and the forms on which to file. C. This publication is for general information only and does not have the force and effect of the law, regulation, or rule. In case of conflict, the law, regulation, or rule will apply. The candidate should obtain the most up-to-date information available because of possible changes in law or procedure since the publication of this information.
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