General election contest on bribery / offense-against-franchise grounds (Elec. Code 16100(c)): statement of contest within 6 months

6 months after date the body canvassing the returns declared the result of the election, under Cal. Elec. Code 16401(a).

Rule text

The contestant shall verify the statement of contest, as provided by Section 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and shall file it within the following times after the declaration of the result of the election by the body canvassing the returns thereof:(a) In cases other than cases of a tie, where the contest is brought on any of the grounds mentioned in subdivision (c) of Section 16100, six months.

Cal. Elec. Code 16401(a), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Thursday, May 6, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date the body canvassing the returns declared the result of the election): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Add 6 months: Thursday, May 6, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Elec. Code 16401(a)
The contestant shall verify the statement of contest, as provided by Section 446 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and shall file it within the following times after the declaration of the result of the election by the body canvassing the returns thereof:(a) In cases other than cases of a tie, where the contest is brought on any of the grounds mentioned in subdivision (c) of Section 16100, six months.
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Gov. Code 6800, 6804, 6806; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (for periods set by the Rules of Court)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a: "(a) If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." Gov. Code 6800: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." Gov. Code 6804: "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Gov. Code 6806: "A day is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following." CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday." Elec. Code 15: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the last day for the performance of any act provided for or required by this code shall be a holiday, as defined in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed.For purposes of this section, the Friday in November immediately after Thanksgiving Day shall be considered a holiday."
Official source
  • Six months = 6 calendar months. Verified statement of contest filed with the superior court clerk (16400). Grounds in 16100(c): bribe or reward to an elector or precinct board member, or any other offense against the elective franchise (Division 18). Chapter 3 contests do not apply to state Senate or Assembly elections (16200). Section amended Stats. 2023, ch. 479 (AB 1762). Computation: Elec. Code 15 lets an act whose last day is a holiday (Gov. Code 6700 et seq., plus the Friday after Thanksgiving) be performed the next business day; CCP 12a also extends a last day falling on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday. Election contest periods are strictly enforced; file by the unrolled date whenever possible.
  • If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

Worked example

Date the body canvassing the returns declared the result of the election on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, September 15, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date the body canvassing the returns declared the result of the election): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Add 6 months: Wednesday, September 15, 2027.

Notes

Six months = 6 calendar months. Verified statement of contest filed with the superior court clerk (16400). Grounds in 16100(c): bribe or reward to an elector or precinct board member, or any other offense against the elective franchise (Division 18). Chapter 3 contests do not apply to state Senate or Assembly elections (16200). Section amended Stats. 2023, ch. 479 (AB 1762). Computation: Elec. Code 15 lets an act whose last day is a holiday (Gov. Code 6700 et seq., plus the Friday after Thanksgiving) be performed the next business day; CCP 12a also extends a last day falling on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday. Election contest periods are strictly enforced; file by the unrolled date whenever possible.

Related deadlines

All California special proceedings deadlines

Local rules by county

County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.