Measures - How to file a measure

1. Your resolution passed by your governing board that includes the following information:
   • Calls an election to put a measure on the ballot.
   • Requests approval of Board of Supervisors to consolidate (if applicable) the election with other elections held on the same date.
   • Requests Board of Supervisors to permit the Elections Dept. to provide election services.
   • Text of the measure question to appear on the ballot (75-word limit)
     • The measure label formatted by our office will be in ALL CAPS and bold type.
     • Your measure question text must be in upper and lower case. • Bullets, italics, bolding, and underlining are not permitted in the text.
2. Ordinance for voters to approve (if applicable)
3. Tax Rate Statement if it is a Bond Measure.
   • Election Code §9401 details additional information required in the tax rate statement.
4. Cover letter transmitting the resolution and/or ordinance with contact information of those authorized to make decisions directly related to the measure. Include phone numbers and email addresses. This information can be provided on the cover letter or emailed to this office to Dan Miller.

Cities

Deliver your original measure documents directly to the Elections Department who will forward your documents to the Board of Supervisors.

School districts

• Bond measures: Deliver your Bond measure resolution directly to the Elections Department.
• All other school district measures: All other school district measure resolutions must be filed directly with the Marin County Office of Education who will notify this office.

Special districts

Deliver your original measure resolution directly to the Elections Department.

Elections Code §12262 and §10522

Jurisdictional boundary changes occurring less than 125 days before the election will not be effective for purposes of that election. It is recommended that districts confirm their current boundaries to ensure all eligible voters are included.

If you are combining your ballot measure election with your candidate election, your boundary maps must be confirmed with our office no later than E-125 (125 days prior to the election). Boundary changes occurring less than 125 days will not be effective for that election.

School districts must confirm district boundaries with the Marin County Office of Education.

• Our office requires e-versions in Word of your measure and arguments.
• To help reduce printing and mailing costs your jurisdiction may have the option to not print the resolution and/or ordinance in our Voter Information Guide. If we do not print the full text we will print a statement informing voters that if they want a copy of the measure mailed or emailed at no cost, to phone either the district or this office. Election Codes 9160, 9280, 9313
• School Districts may opt to not print the resolution but must print the full text. EC 9500
• BOND measure statement of tax rate data for all jurisdictions must be printed in our Voter Information Guide. EC 9400 thru 9402
• Full text of measures may be reformatted to reduce the number of pages in the voter guide.
• Electronic Word versions of your measure and ballot arguments are required for typesetting purposes.
• If your district submits a measure argument please provide contact email addresses for typeset proofing purposes.
• Contact the Property Tax Division of the Marin County Department of Finance to confirm the effective date of tax measures beginning the year of the election or the following year. This should be resolved prior to passing your resolution.