Chapter 2.42 ELECTIONS

Chapter 2.42
ELECTIONS

Sections:

2.42.020 City council by-district electoral system.

2.42.030 Establishment of city council election districts.

2.42.010 Election consolidation.

A. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 1301, the general municipal election for the city shall be held on the same date as the date of the statewide general election.

B. The board of supervisors of the county of Sacramento, state of California, is hereby requested to order consolidation of the city of Rancho Cordova’s general municipal election with the statewide general election held on the same date as the statewide general election.

C. The board of supervisors of the county of Sacramento, state of California, is hereby requested to direct the Sacramento County registrar to conduct all necessary services related to the election and to bill the city of Rancho Cordova for the cost of conducting the election.

D. The board of supervisors of the county of Sacramento, state of California, is hereby requested to permit the county elections official to prepare the city’s election materials, and the city shall, if the board of supervisors agrees to provide such services, supply the county elections official with a list of its precincts, or consolidated precincts, as applicable, no later than 61 days before the election.

E. Notice of the time and place for holding the election is given and the city clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the election, in time, form and manner as required by law.

F. All subsequent general municipal elections shall be held in the time and manner as prescribed in this section unless the city council repeals or amends the ordinance codified in this section. [Ord. 12-2023 § 4; Ord. 11-2003 § 2].

2.42.020 City council by-district electoral system.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 34886 and the schedule established in RCMC 2.42.010, commencing with the November 2024 general municipal election, each member of the Rancho Cordova city council shall be elected by district in five single-member districts. The term “by districts” as used in this chapter shall mean election of members of the legislative body by voters of the district alone. The city’s by-district election system shall be conducted in accordance with California Government Code Section 34871(a). [Ord. 12-2023 § 5].

2.42.030 Establishment of city council election districts.

A. Pursuant to RCMC 2.42.020, members of the Rancho Cordova city council from council districts 1, 3, and 4 shall be elected on a by-district basis as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 34871(a), beginning with the general municipal election in November 2024 and every four years thereafter, as such council districts may be amended from time to time pursuant to applicable law.

B. Pursuant to RCMC 2.42.020, members of the Rancho Cordova city council from council districts 2 and 5 shall be elected on a by-district basis as that term is defined in California Government Code Section 34871(a), beginning with the general municipal election in November 2026 and every four years thereafter, as such council districts may be amended from time to time pursuant to applicable law.

C. Except as provided in subsection (E) of this section, all candidates for the city council and all appointed and elected council members shall fully comply with applicable law including but not limited to California Government Code Section 34882 and California Elections Code Section 201. Termination of residency in a council district by a council member shall create an immediate vacancy for that council district unless a substitute residence within that district is established within 30 calendar days after the termination of residency.

D. Only the registered voters residing in the council district may vote for candidates running for city council in that district.

E. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each of the council members in office at the time this chapter takes effect shall continue in office until the expiration of the full term to which they were elected and until their successor is qualified. Vacancies in council member offices elected at large at the time this chapter takes effect may be filled by the city council from the city at large pursuant to applicable law until the expiration of that at-large term. At the end of the term of each council member, that member’s successor shall be elected on a by-district basis in the council districts established herein and as subsequently reapportioned as provided by law. A vacancy in a council member office elected by district shall be filled by a person qualified to hold the office in that vacant council district pursuant to applicable law. [Ord. 12-2023 § 5].

2.42.040 Map of council districts.

The city clerk shall maintain a map of the city showing the current boundaries and numbers of each council district as they are established and may be amended from time to time by ordinance of the city council. The map of the initial council districts is attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. [Ord. 12-2023 § 5].