California · Elections Code

ELEC §16464: At any time within three days after the filing of the affidavit of the contestant to the effect that the contestant has sent by certified mail a copy of the affidavit to the defendant, the defendant m

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes a three-day timeframe following filing of a contestant's affidavit and certified mailing to the defendant for the defendant to take action.

Read the full statutory text
At any time within three days after the filing of the affidavit of the contestant to the effect that the contestant has sent by certified mail a copy of the affidavit to the defendant, the defendant may file with the clerk of the superior court an affidavit in the defendant’s own behalf, setting up the defendant’s desire to have the votes counted in any precincts, designating them, in addition to the precincts designated in the affidavit of the contestant, and setting up the defendant’s grounds therefor. On the trial of the contest all of the precincts named in the affidavits of the contestant and the defendant shall be considered, and a recount had with reference to all of those precincts. The contestant shall have the same right to answer the affidavit of the defendant as is given to the defendant with reference to the affidavit of the contestant except that the contestant’s answer shall be filed not later than the first day of the trial of the contest.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

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.