California elections, 2012
| Contents |
|---|
| 1 2012 Elections |
| 2 Eligibility to Vote |
| 2.1 Primary election |
| 2.2 General election |
| 3 Voting absentee |
| 3.1 Eligibility |
| 3.2 Deadlines |
| 3.3 Military and overseas voting |
| 4 Voting early |
| 5 See also |
| 6 References |
The state of California held elections in 2012. Below are the dates of note:
- Signature filing deadline: March 9, 2012 & dates vary for state ballot measures
- Primary date: June 5, 2012
- General election date: November 6, 2012
| On the 2012 ballot | Click here for all November 6, 2012 Election Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senate (1 seat) | 
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Preview Article | |
| U.S. House (53 seats) |
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| State Executives | 
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N/A | |
| State Senate (20 seats) |
|
Preview Article | |
| State Assembly (80 seats) |
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| Ballot measures (13 measures) |
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Preview Article | |
2012 Elections
For election results in the 50 states, see our November 6, 2012 election results page
Elections by type
| Members of the U.S. House from California -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 34 | 38 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | 15 | |
| Total | 53 | 53 | |
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2012
Heading into the election, Democrats maintained partisan control in the state senate.
| California State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 25 | 26 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | 12 | |
| Total | 40 | 40 | |
Heading into the election, Democrats maintained partisan control in the state assembly.
| California State Assembly | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 52 | 56 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 24 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 | |
- See also: California 2012 ballot measures
June 5:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Proposition 28 | Term limits | Limit of 8 years (senate)/6 years (assembly) replaced with 12-year limit on combined service |
|
| CISS | Proposition 29 | Taxes | Increase the tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research |
|
November 6:
Ballotpedia tracked local ballot elections in 11 states. Those states included: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.
For the state of California, below is a glimpse of some of the local measures that appeared or were scheduled to appear on ballots in 2012.
- City of Piedmont Parcel Tax, Measure D (March 2008)
- City of Calexico Appointed City Clerk and City Treasurer, Measures P and Q (June 2012)
- City of Fresno Financial Practices Charter Amendment, Measure F (November 2012)
- Blanchard/Santa Paula Public Library Increase in Appropriations Limit, Measure U (November 2012)
- City of Cotati Prohibition on Roundabout Construction, Measure U (November 2012)
- Santa Rosa Design-Build Procurement, Measure S (November 2012)
- Method of Election to the Santa Rosa City Council, Measure Q (November 2012)
- City of Hughson Length of Mayoral Term, Measure U (November 2012)
- Indian Wells Rotation in the Office of Mayor, Measure Q (November 2012)
- City of Eastvale Appropriations Limit, Measure BB (November 2012)
- See also: Political recall efforts and Recall campaigns in California
San Fernando
San Fernando, California city councilors Mario Hernandez, Maribel De La Torre, and Brenda Esqueda all faced recall elections.[1] While Hernandez resigned from his post in July 2012, his name still appeared on the recall ballot in accordance with the laws governing recall in California. Activity on the city council was more reminiscent of a soap opera than of a local government. At a November 2011 city council meeting, Hernandez, who was married at the time, announced that he was having an affair with De La Torre.[2] In June 2012, Hernandez and De La Torre had a violent altercation that resulted in De La Torre being charged with vandalism and battery.[3] Meanwhile, Esqueda was openly having an extra-marital affair with police sergeant Alvaro Castellon. All three city councilors were accused of interfering with a police investigation that involved Castellon allegedly making criminal threats against a police cadet who was having an affair with Chief of Police Anthony Ruelas.[4] The police cadet, Maria Barajas, sued the city, claiming that Castellon told her she "could disappear."
The three recall targets were accused of retaliating against recall supporters by selectively enforcing obscure city codes, and voting for a controversial "decorum ordinance" that would physically remove and impose fines on those who are considered "out of order" at city council meetings.[5][6]
Orange Cove
Frank Martinez and Glenda Hill, members of the Orange Cove City Council, were also up for recall on November 6. Former Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez organized the recall effort. He said Martinez and Hill were "running the city into a bankruptcy." Lopez was running as a replacement candidate in the election, meaning that if either Martinez or Hill were recalled, he could take one of their seats on the council.[7]
Eligibility to Vote
Primary election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 primary elections
California was one of 16 states to use an open primary system. California's system was an open Top 2 Primary Election, in which the top two candidates move to the general election. The deadline to register to vote was 15 days prior to each local and statewide Election Day.[8] (Information about registering to vote)
General election
- See also: Voting in the 2012 general elections
The deadline to register to vote was 15 days prior to the election day, which in 2012 was October 22.[9]
- Voter ID info
- Same-day registration: None
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee Voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in California. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[10]
To vote absentee, an absentee ballot application must be received by elections officials at least seven days prior to the election. The completed ballot can be submitted by mail, but must be postmarked no later than Election Day. The completed ballot must be received by elections official no more than three days after Election Day. An absentee ballot can also be submitted in person to elections officials by close of polls on Election Day.[10]
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
California is one of 34 states that permits early voting with no specific restrictions as to who can vote early. Early voting dates in California are determined by individual counties. County information can be accessed here.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ CBS Los Angeles, "San Fernando City Council Schedules Recall Election," July 17, 2012
- ↑ CBS Los Angeles, "San Fernando Mayor Announces Affair With City Councilwoman In Front Of Wife, Residents," November 28, 2011
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "San Fernando councilwoman charged with attack on ex-lover," July 13, 2012
- ↑ San Fernando Valley Sun, "Council Meeting Brings More Innuendo, Accusations and Public In-Fighting," accessed February 23, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ San Fernando Valley Sun, "San Fernando Residents Allege Reprisals for Support of Recall ," May 17, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ San Fernando Valley Sun, "San Fernando City Council Passes Controversial Decorum Ordinance Despite Public Protest," June 7, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Fresno Bee, "Ex-Orange Cove mayor Victor Lopez leads recall," August 16, 2012
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Election FAQS" accessed April 17, 2012
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Election Voter Registration," accessed May 15, 2012
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 California Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed January 21, 2015
