(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 8106, if the last day to file in-lieu-filing-fee petitions pursuant to that paragraph for a special election to fill a vacancy occurs before the vacancy begins, or before the Governor calls the special election by issuing a proclamation pursuant to Section 10700, the following apply:
(1) If the nomination period for the special election is 12 days or more, the in-lieu-filing-fee petitions shall be filed at least nine days before the close of the nomination period. Within three days after receipt of a petition, the elections official shall notify the candidate of any deficiency. The candidate shall then, at the time of obtaining nomination forms, pay a pro rata portion of the filing fee to cover the deficiency.
(2) If the nomination period for the special election is 11 days or less, the Secretary of State shall set the time for filing in-lieu-filing-fee petitions and the time by which the elections official shall notify the candidate of any deficiency. If there is a deficiency, the candidate shall, at the time of obtaining nomination forms, pay a pro rata portion of the filing fee to cover the deficiency.
(b) If the number of days for a candidate to collect signatures on a petition in lieu of a filing fee for a special election that is held to fill a vacancy is less than the number of days that a candidate would have to collect signatures on a petition for a regular election for the same office, the elections official shall reduce the required number of signatures for the petition, as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 8106, by the same proportion as the reduction in time for the candidate to collect signatures.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the number of signatures required on an in-lieu-filing-fee petition for a special election held to fill a vacancy in the office of Representative in Congress, State Senator, or Member of the Assembly shall be not less than 100.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 104. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)