California · Elections Code

ELEC §13104: (a) If a candidate changes their name within one year of any election, the new name shall not appear upon the ballot unless the change was made by either of the following: (1) Marriage.

What this law says, in plain English

A candidate who changes their name within one year before an election cannot use the new name on the ballot unless the name change resulted from marriage.

Read the full statutory text

(a) If a candidate changes their name within one year of any election, the new name shall not appear upon the ballot unless the change was made by either of the following: (1) Marriage. (2) Decree of any court of competent jurisdiction. (b) This section does not apply to candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.