Legal Alerts Feb 02, 2023
In With The New – Part Three
BB&K’s New Law Guidance for a Well-Informed Start to 2023
Election Law
Elections and voting rights are at the core of local government. Best Best & Krieger LLP’s attorneys and professionals are recognized leaders in providing support and advice on all local election issues relating to voting rights, candidates and ballot measures. Our team assists clients with all types of voting issues, including voting rights and districting, election procedure, candidate nomination, ballot titles, statements and arguments, and ballot measures on a broad array of topics from voter-approved taxes to land use. We are experienced in initiative drafting, filing, publication and circulation, advising on campaign regulations, election contests, election timing, ballot security, recall procedures, referendums, ballot recounts, election-result contests and other post-election matters.
Election Law Resource Center
BB&K’s Election Law Resource Center gives public agencies the Vote of Confidence they need with an Election Law Toolkit and hotline help via telephone or email. The Toolkit, updated annually, includes the latest forms, templates, outlines, checklists and schedules to process, track and conduct regular elections, including resolutions and filings, outlines and other election elements. It includes guidance and explanatory notes. For an annual fee, clients receive the Toolkit and access to the hotline for support using the election templates or for basic election-related questions.
Learn more about our Election Law resources here.
Voting Rights and Redistricting
Voting districts in California must be drawn in compliance with state and federal constitutional and statutory requirements. These include requirements under the Voting Rights Act, the 14th Amendment, the California Voting Rights Act and redistricting guidelines in the California Constitution, Government Code, Elections Code and local charters and ordinances.
We are experienced in helping public agencies consider “by district” voting, with proportional voting districts as required by federal and state law. We also advise on redistricting/reapportionment issues that often arise whenever a new federal census report is published.
Census data forms are the building blocks for any redistricting exercise, but a deeper analysis of community characteristics, shifting demographics, voter data, election outcomes and/or attitudinal profiles are critical information to include in a successful redistricting process. BB&K’s team is experienced helping public agencies develop a statistically reliable understanding of the communities they serve. Utilizing a demographic analysis of census and voter data, as well as advanced statistical techniques and modeling, we provide public agencies with a redistricting plan process that is efficient, seamless and in compliance with the myriad of laws and regulations involved in redistricting.
We regularly advise clients on challenges brought under California and federal voting rights laws. In addition, under the July 2020 California Appellate Court voting rights decision, Pico Neighborhood Association v. City of Santa Monica, there are still uncertainties and risks of costly court challenges pending the California Supreme Court’s hearing of that case on appeal.
General Election Advice/Initiatives and Referendums
We provide day-to-day election advice relating to elections on candidates, initiatives, referendums and recalls, including advice on taxes, fees and general obligation bonds. Our attorneys routinely help clients draft and place local initiative measures on the ballot and respond to citizen-driven initiative and referendum measures.
Election Finance
BB&K provides campaign finance guidance under California’s Political Reform Act and Fair Political Practice Commission regulations and Federal Election Commission regulations. Our attorneys regularly advise public agencies on constraints on public spending in connection with ballot measures, have advised many cities to ensure that local candidates and political action committees comply with applicable campaign disclosure requirements and have helped clients draft their own local campaign contribution limitation ordinances to the extent permitted by law. We assist local agency formation commissions in regulating pre-election and protest election financing of LAFCO proposals.
Election Litigation
BB&K is well-qualified to represent clients in the rapidly emerging areas of voting rights, suffrage and election integrity.
Press Releases Jan 12, 2023
BB&K Partners Selected to 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers List
Event Nov 16, 2022
NALEO 14th Biennial National Institute for Newly Elected Officials
BB&K Attorneys to Present on Fiduciary and Government Oversight Responsibilities
Free Webinar Nov 03, 2022
Voting Districts and the CVRA: How to Recognize and Address California Voting Rights Vulnerabilities
BB&K Webinar Featuring Guest Speakers HaystaqDNA Senior Vice President and Senior Data Analyst
Legal Alerts Oct 11, 2022
Local Governing Board Members Will Now Have Conflict of Interest in Campaign Donors Appearing Before Their Agencies
Gov. Newsom signs SB 1439, Expanding the Levine Act’s Restrictions
Event Aug 22, 2022
2022 CSDA Annual Conference and Exhibitor Showcase
BB&K’s Stephanie Smith to Present Lessons Learned From a Disrupted Redistricting Process and More
Legal Alerts May 17, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court Issues Two Decisions Impacting Local Sign Regulations and Flag Policies
Lawful or Landmine? Court Rules on First Amendment Snares
Legal Alerts Apr 27, 2022
NFTs – Non-Fungible Campaign Contributions?
FPPC’s Newly Issued Leiderman Commission Opinion Provides Guidance on Campaign Reporting Obligations
Legal Alerts Feb 10, 2022
In With the New – Part Four
BB&K's New Law Guidance for a Happy New Year
Authored Articles & Publications Oct 11, 2021
City Clerk and Board Secretary Roadmap
PublicCEO Article on Navigating Developing Challenges Involving Public Records, Social Media and More
Press Releases Sep 21, 2021
Two BB&K Attorneys Honored by CCCA at 2021 Fall Conference
Christi Hogin and Michael Jenkins Selected to Receive El Matador Grande Award
Press Releases May 20, 2021
Sonia Carvalho Named a Top Woman Lawyer 2021
Daily Journal Includes Municipal Law Partner on its Annual List
Authored Articles & Publications May 07, 2021
Don’t Book That Flight Yet! California City Officials Have Voting District Deadlines
Election Law Partner Scott Smith Discusses Redistricting Requirements in Western City Magazine
Press Releases Apr 26, 2021
Stephanie Smith Receives City Clerks Association of California’s Pat Hammers Spirit Award
Stephanie Now Serves as BB&K’s Director of Election Services
Event Apr 08, 2021
Public Records, Social Media, Redistricting and More
City Clerks Association of California's 2021 Annual Conference
Press Releases Feb 10, 2021
BB&K Announces Election Law Practice Expansion and New Client Services
A “Toolkit” and Hotline Among New Offerings
Legal Alerts Feb 03, 2021
Court Provides Guidance in Applying “Racially Polarized Voting” Analysis to a California Voting Rights Act Challenge
Court of Appeal Decision in Yumori-Kaku et al. v. City of Santa Clara
Legal Alerts Jan 25, 2021
Redistricting in California
What Public Agencies Must Know Ahead of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Data Release
Legal Alerts Jan 06, 2021
Court Confirms FPPC's Authority to Punish Public Agencies That Spend Undisclosed Public Money to Influence Voters at Elections
California Trial Court Rules on Campaign-Related Public Spending
Legal Alerts Sep 23, 2020
Two Courts Offer Election Guidance: Slow-Walking Ballots is Unconstitutional
Mail-In and Absentee Ballots Debated in COVID-19 Pandemic and Election Day Overlap
Legal Alerts Sep 17, 2020
An Extraordinary Smackdown of an Ordinary Sign Ordinance
Court Invalidates Common Sign Ordinance on First Amendment Grounds
Legal Alerts Aug 13, 2020
Challenge to Prop 15: Courts Don’t Mess with Initiatives (or AGs Who Summarize Them)
Swift Decision Rejects Ballot Language Opposition
Authored Articles & Publications Aug 05, 2020
Postponing a Presidential Election and the Law
BB&K's Henry Castillo Writes About the Legal Authority for Election Postponement in PublicCEO
Legal Alerts Jul 10, 2020
City of Santa Monica Successfully Defends its At-Large Voting System
California Appellate Court Holds Plaintiffs Must Establish “Dilution” to Successfully Challenge At-Large Voting Systems Under CVRA
Legal Alerts Apr 21, 2020
California Voting Rights Act Deadlines Delayed During COVID-19 Pandemic
New Order Also Gives Guidance on Three Upcoming Special Elections
Legal Alerts Apr 06, 2020
California’s Voter Participation Rights Act Does Not Apply to Charter Cities
Appellate Court Takes on “Home Rule” in City of Redondo v. Alex Padilla
Legal Alerts Feb 27, 2020
Election Void for Being Held on Improper Day, Court Holds
California Appellate Court Invalidates Water District Board Election
Authored Articles & Publications Feb 12, 2020
PublicCEO: BB&K Municipal Law Team Discusses New Public Agency Laws - Part 1
Elections, Public Safety, Surplus Funds and More
Legal Alerts Jan 15, 2020
New Laws 2020 Roundup
New Public Agency, California Public Records Act, Education and Labor & Employment Laws
Legal Alerts Jan 07, 2020
New Election, Conflict of Interest, Firearm and Cannabis Laws
Part 1: California Laws Impacting Public Agencies for 2020
Legal Alerts Oct 28, 2019
AB 571 Sets Default Candidate Contribution Limits for City and County Offices
FPPC Will Enforce Limits
Legal Alerts Oct 24, 2019
When Public Opinion Surveys Become Reportable Expenditures Under the Political Reform Act
FPPC Advises When Public Agencies Can Survey Voters and Disseminate Results
Legal Alerts Sep 12, 2019
Political Reform Act’s Ban on Public Money for Campaigns Upheld
Calif. Appellate Court Strikes Down SB 1107
Legal Alerts Sep 05, 2019
Citizens’ Initiative Power Cannot Intrude on Public Agency’s Express Authority
Initiatives that Would Change County Government Structure Not Allowed, Calif. Appellate Court Rules
Legal Alerts Mar 04, 2019
FPPC Wants Authority to Enforce Misuse of Public Funds for Campaign Activity
Seeking Legislation to Amend Political Reform Act
Legal Alerts Jan 09, 2019
New Year, New Laws Impacting Public Agencies in California – Part I
2019 Brings Changes to Election, Revenue, Conflict of Interest, Property and Public Safety Laws… and More
Press Releases Jan 02, 2019
BB&K Announces Three New Partners
Additional Changes to Leadership Roles
Press Releases Dec 19, 2018
Cities’ Struggles to Meet Obligations Are Real — BB&K Municipal Law Team Grows to Help
New and Expanded Services and More Attorneys and Staff Added in 2018
Legal Alerts Dec 05, 2018
Laws Regulating Campaign Contributions Must Be Narrowly Tailored to Combat Corruption
Ninth Circuit Holds That States Have an Important Interest in Preserving the Integrity of Their Political Institutions
Authored Articles & Publications Oct 12, 2018
Public Agency, Officials’ & Employees’ Rules for Electioneering
BB&K Attorneys Jim Priest and Sigrid Asmundson Discuss the Dos and Don’ts in PublicCEO
Press Releases Sep 26, 2018
Attorney Albert Maldonado Elected to Two Boards
Municipal Law Attorney to Serve Educational Organizations
Legal Alerts Sep 19, 2018
Statutory Development Agreements Cannot be Passed by Initiative
California Appellate Court Gives Cities Less Flexibility
Legal Alerts Aug 16, 2018
General Tax Measure with Related Advisory Measure on Same Ballot Does Not Turn It Into a Special Tax
Issue Related to Number of Votes Needed to Pass a General Versus Special Tax Under Proposition 218
Videos Aug 14, 2018
Christi Hogin Video Bio
Of Counsel
Videos Aug 14, 2018
Michael Jenkins Video Bio
Of Counsel
BB&K In the News Jun 01, 2018
Brent Collinson Admitted to U.S. Supreme Court Bar
Attorney Recently Merged Firm with BB&K, Sierra Sun Reports
Authored Articles & Publications Feb 28, 2018
New Laws Part I: 2018 Brings Campaign, Election and Records Reforms
PublicCEO
Authored Articles & Publications Jan 18, 2018
At-Large Elections Pose Litigation Risk Under CVRA
By Thomas Rice
Legal Alerts Jan 09, 2018
2018 California Public Agency Laws – Part I
Elections, Public Records Act, Revenue and Conflicts of Interest
Legal Alerts Nov 15, 2017
Calif.’s “Mass Mailing” Rule Amended by SB 45
Certain Government-Funded Mailings Prohibited 60 Days Before an Election
Legal Alerts Jul 18, 2017
Calif. AG Says SB 415 Applies to Charter Cities and Local School Districts Governed by Charter Cities
California Voter Participation Rights Act
Press Releases Jan 20, 2017
Southern California Super Lawyers 2017
Five BB&K Partners Receive Honor
Legal Alerts Dec 22, 2016
Looking Forward: New California Laws for Public Agencies
Laws Passed in 2016 That Will Impact Public Agency Work
Videos Nov 18, 2016
William J. Priest Video Bio
Of Counsel
BB&K In the News Oct 23, 2016
Sacramento Transportation Sales Tax Mailers Stir Questions
Advocacy vs. Informational: BB&K Attorney Jim Priest Discusses with Sacramento Bee
Authored Articles & Publications Sep 29, 2016
Local Campaign Finance Reform: What Local Agencies Can – and Cannot – Do (Part 2)
By William J. Priest
Authored Articles & Publications Sep 09, 2016
Local Campaign Finance Reform: Can Local Agencies Wean the Baby From “Mother’s Milk?” (Part 1)
By William J. Priest
Legal Alerts Apr 06, 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Holds States and Localities May Continue to Draw Voting Districts Based on Total Population
Total Population, However, May Not Be the Only Standard Upon Which Voting Areas Can Be Based
Legal Alerts Feb 11, 2016
California Court Interprets Stockton’s Term Limit Non-Cumulatively to Allow Repeat Runners
Case Illustrates Why How a Measure is Worded Matters
Authored Articles & Publications Feb 01, 2016
New California Law May Require Public Agencies to Change Regular Election Dates
By William J. Priest
Legal Alerts Dec 18, 2015
New California Laws Impacting Public Agencies
This comprehensive round-up includes new legislation that will impact cities, counties, special districts and schools.
Legal Alerts Oct 27, 2014
Use of School Grounds for Campaign and Election Activities
The Education Code and the Courts Have Established Rules and Regulations for Campuses
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