Ley v. Dominguez

Petitioner request a writ of mandate directing the city clerk of the city of Los Angeles to examine certain referendum petitions according to law, in order to determine whether the same are signed by the requisite number of qualified electors, and to certify the results of his examination to the city council. By stipulation it was agreed

The city council of Los Angeles duly passed two ordinances, by the terms of which certain real property, which had theretofore been restricted to a residential use, was included within the zones permitting .a qualified business use thereof. The two ordinances were duly published,' as required by the terms of the city charter, on February 13, 1930. On March 15, 1930, certain documents, purporting to be referendum petitions, were delivered to respondent clerk. These petitions purported to require the city council to submit the question of the adoption or rejection of the two ordinances to a vote of the people. They will hereafter be referred to as petition A and petition B.

Petitioner is a registered qualified elector and a taxpayer of the city of Los Angeles and is one of the signers of the two petitions. It appears that on petition A there were 45,087 names and that on petition B there were 44,426 names; that the number of signatures of registered qualified electors required on each of said petitions in order to make them effective was 25,843; that respondent city clerk has determined, upon an examination of the registration records, that on petition A there are only 24,076 signatures of registered qualified electors who have registered since January 1, 1930, and that on petition B there are only 23>526 such signatures. Respondent clerk refused to certify the balance of the signatures on certain specified and admitted grounds, the validity of such refusal being the question presented on this petition.

The signatures which the city clerk refused to certify, for convenience, can be divided into several groups:

A. It was found that on petition A there are 761 signatures and on petition B 902 signatures, with the wrong precinct number set opposite each signature. The precinct number in each ease was not inserted by the signer of the petition, but by its sponsors, the work being rendered especially difficult because, just prior to January 1, 1930, the election precinct lines within the city were re-established

B. On petition A there are 1419 signatures and on petition B 1344 signatures with no precinct number opposite such signatures. Just as in the case of group A, supra, the sponsors of the petitions, subsequent to filing them, and while they were being checked, offered to supply the city clerk with the proper precinct numbers, but the city clerk refused to use the offered information.

C. On petition A there are 595 signatures and on petition B 560 signatures of persons who signed what appear to be and what respondent clerk assumes are their husbands’ initials or given names, using the prefix “Mrs.” in each instance. As to each of these signatures the respondent found affidavits of registration executed subsequent to January 1, 1930, by a person with the same surname as shown on the petitions, and from the same address. In each case there was a woman registered from the same address and a man with the same initials or given name as used by the married woman in signing the petitions, but inasmuch as the registration affidavits contained the given name of the woman, the.respondent clerk refused to certify these names.

D. On petition A there axe 14,153 signatures and on petition B 14,048 signatures of persons who have not registered in the period of January 1, 1930, to March 15, 1930. Respondent clerk has refused to examine the records of registration for the period 1928-1929, on the ground that the only persons qualified to sign said petitions are those registered since January 1, 1930, and before March 15, 1930. There is an undetermined number of those whose signatures were disallowed for this reason who had registered for the preceding two-year period.

F. In addition to those signatures set forth in group E, supra, the city clerk refused to certify the signatures- of certain persons, although such signers were qualified registered electors, because the circulators who secured these signatures were, in the opinion of the respondent, disqualified. Although not including all of the signatures thus disallowed, the following groupings illustrate the grounds of these alleged disqualifications:

1. 720 signers of petition A and 660 signers of petition B were disqualified, although admittedly registered qualified electors, because the respondent clerk discovered on evidence outside the registration records that the circulators who secured said signatures moved to a certain address less than thirty days before securing signatures on the petitions.

2. 94 signers of petition A and 95 signers of petition B were disqualified, although admittedly registered qualified electors, because respondent clerk discovered on evidence outside the registration records that, although persons with the same name and address were registered as circulated and verified the petitions, no one giving the name of such circulator ever resided at the address from which he appears to have registered.

3. One circulator, respondent clerk discovered on evidence outside the registration records, who had secured 71 names of registered qualified electors on each petition, had moved from the address given in the affidavit of registration before certifying the petitions.

4. Respondent clerk refused to certify as valid 99 signatures of registered qualified electors on each petition, because it appears, on evidence outside the registration records, that the circulators who secured these signatures moved from the address given in the affidavit of registration before March 15, 1930, the evidence not showing that the names so secured were not secured before the' time of moving.

Petitioner admits that the respondent clerk properly refused to certify the names of any signer who registered after

Before discussing the validity of the action of the city clerk in refusing to certify the names above set out, certain principles of construction applicable to charter and statutory provisions providing for referendum by popular vote should be mentioned. Some states have held that such provisions should be strictly construed, on the theory that the right of referendum is a grant to a small minority of the people and a limitation on the rights of the majority. (Ohio Valley v. Hagerty, 14 Ohio App. 398 ; Ferle v. Parsons, 210 Mich. 150 [ 177 N. W. 397 ].) In those jurisdictions that follow this rule the liberal construction indulged in in interpreting election statutes generally, in order to safeguard the rights of the people, is not extended to referendum statutes. That is not the rule in this state. It is well settled that the power of initiative and referendum, as exercised in this state, is the exercise by the people of a power reserved to them, and not the exercise of a right granted to them. Section 1, article IV, of the Constitution expressly so provides. (See, also, McClure v. Nye, 22 Cal. App. 248 [ 133 Pac. 1145 ] ; Dwyer v. Berkeley, 200 Cal. 505 [ 253 Pac. 932 ].) For that reason, and in order to protect the people of this state in the exercise of this reserved legislative power, statutory or charter provision dealing with the referendum should be afforded the same liberal construction afforded election statutes generally.

At the outset of the discussion dealing with the merits of this controversy we are met with the contention made by amicus curiae, and concurred in by respondent,

We can see no reason for applying to the above charter provisions a method of reckoning different from and an exception to the ordinary method of computation. The gravest considerations of public order and security require that the method of computing time be definite and certain.

Amicus curiae likewise contends, and respondent concurs, that the only person permitted to sign a referendum petition is a qualified elector who has registered, and that registration of itself does not prove that the signer is qualified. Section 338 of the charter provides that “only an elector who is a registered qualified elector shall be entitled to sign the same”. To be a qualified elector, it is contended, the signer must have been registered at least thirty days. The argument is based on the fact that under section 1096 of the Political Code a person may register, even though at the time of registration he is not qualified, provided that he will be qualified at the time of the next election. It is argued that under the above charter provision the signer must' be qualified at the time of signing the petition, and that inasmuch as it is impossible to tell from the affidavit of registration whether the person at the time of registering has been a resident of the precinct thirty days, only those persons who have been registered at least thirty days at the time of signing or at the time of filing the petitions should be considered registered qualified electors. The point is without merit. It is true that section 338 of the charter requires á signer of a referendum petition to be a “registered qualified elector”, but the same section provides that the city clerk in examining the petitions is restricted in his examination to the records of registration, and must determine the. qualifications of the signers from such records (except as hereinafter noted). Certainly it was never intended by these provisions that a registered qualified elector should be deprived of his right to sign a referendum petition simply because the city clerk may guess or believe that the signer at the time of registering may not have been a resident of the precinct for thirty days before he registered. The charter does not so provide. Adopting, as we must, a liberal rule of interpretation, so as to protect the citizen, if possible, in the exercise of his reserved right, we are of the opinion that the charter pro

We turn now to a consideration of the. various groups of signers, set forth supra, all of whom the clerk has refused to certify.

A. Those whose signatures were followed by the wrong precinct numbers.

It appears from the admitted facts that certain signatures were disallowed by the city clerk solely because the names were followed by the incorrect precinct number. It further appears that the city clerk could have, and, in fact, in some cases did ascertain the correct precinct numbers of such signers by a reference to the records of registration and from the official precinct maps. Moreover, the city clerk refused to certify certain of the names in this group although on one petition the proper precinct number was found while on the other the incorrect precinct number was inserted. The latter names he refused to certify. It is also an admitted fact that during the period the city clerk was examining the petitions the -sponsors of the petitions offered to supply the correct precinct numbers to the clerk, but he refused to accept this information.

Section 273 of the charter provides for the form and content of such petitions. Prior to 1927 there was no requirement that the petition must contain the precinct num

Prior to the adoption of this admendment the duty of ascertaining the correct precinct number of signers of such petitions rested entirely on the city clerk. Under the amendment, quoted supra, it is not required that the signer of the petition must insert this information, the terms of the amendment permitting the precinct number to be inserted by anyone. It was obviously contemplated, under this amendment, that the burden should fall on the sponsors of the petitions, a task rendered particularly difficult in this case because of the complete re-arrangement and change in precinct lines that took place immediately before these petitions were circulated.

It is obvious that the addition of precinct numbers adds nothing to the petition as a petition of the people. The provision was designed simply as a mechanical aid to the city clerk in investigating, identifying and verifying the persons and signatures of the purported signers. (See Osborn v. Board of Supervisors, 27 Cal. App. 85 [ 148 Pac. 970 ].) It should not be held that failure on the part of the signers to add the precinct numbers opposite their names would invalidate the signatures of persons otherwise qualified.

B. What we have already said in regard to the insertion of incorrect precinct numbers likewise applies to the group identified under subdivision B, supra, where no precinct numbers were inserted. The principles govering both situations are identical.

C. Signatures by married women who signed what respondent clerk assumes are their husbands’ given names or initials, with the prefix “Mrs.” As to these signatures the respondent found affidavits of registration executed subsequent to January 1, 1930, by persons with the same surnames as shown on the petitions, and from the same addresses. In each case, in addition to a woman being registered from the address given on the registration affidavit, there was a man with the same given name or initials as was used by the woman in signing the petitions. In other w'ords, the situation is one where a married woman, at the time of registering, signed her own given name, as

In this regard the respondent clerk has the duty of examining the signature on the petition and comparing it with the signature found in the registration records. This can be done by an examination of the handwriting and the surnames. The question is simply one of identity. If reasonably satisfied by such examination that the two signatures are those of the same person, they should be approved, regardless of the given name or initials that are used.

D. Respondent has refused to refer to the registration records for the period 1928-1929, and has refused to certify as valid all signatures of persons who have not registered between January 1, 1930, and March 15, 1930. The question thus presented is whether a petition circulated in the first three months of an even-numbered year can be signed by an elector who has not registered since the first day of an even-numbered year, but had registered for the two-year period immediately preceding.

As stated above, all referendum petitions are required by section 338 of the charter to be signed by registered qualified electors. The question thus presented is what is a “registered qualified elector” within the meaning of section 338.

Section 1094 of the Political Code provides for the new and complete registration of voters every even-numbered year, with the exception that a person may vote at any election held between January 1st and April 1st of an even-numbered year, based on his old registration. The same section also provides that “all affidavits of registration made prior to the first day of January of any even-numbered year shall be deemed cancelled upon said day, except for the sole purpose of being used as hereinbefore stated

Respondent clerk also relies upon the provisions of section 1083a of the Political Code. That section provides that “whenever by the Constitution or laws of this state” any referendum petition is required to be signed by “qualified electors”, only an elector who is “a registered qualified elector at the time he signs such petition or paper shall be entitled to sign the same, and no elector shall be en

It is to be noted that section 338 of the charter, supra, although virtually copied from section 1083a of the Political Code, with the exception that it refers to the charter instead of to the state Constitution or laws, omits the clause in section 1083a in reference to the disqualification of registrants on December 31st of every odd-numbered year. The reason is obvious. A rule applicable to state legislation, where the legislature only meets in regular session in the first months of odd-numbered years, is not applicable to municipal legislation, where the legislative bodies are in continuous session. What would be a reasonably regulation in the former case would not be reasonable in the latter.

We are therefore of the opinion that, when section 338 of the charter is interpreted in connection with section 1094 of the Political Code, all those who registered for the period 1928-1929, as well as those who have registered since January 1, 1930, and before March 15, 1930, are “registered qualified electors” in the sense that registration in either period permits them to sign referendum petitions. • .

E. Respondent clerk has refused to allow certain signatures because they were secured by circulators whom the clerk held were disqualified, for the same reason that he refused to certify as valid the' names of signers in group I), supra. What we have heretofore said in reference to

F. Respondent clerk refused to certify as valid the signatures of certain persons, on the ground that the circulators securing these signatures were disqualified on grounds other than those set forth in reference to group E, supra. It is found as a fact that all the signatures thus secured were signatures of registered qualified electors. The city clerk disqualified those circulators on the ground that the findings of fact in the case of Woodward v. Dominguez disclosed that, although all of the circulators were registered, in the case of some of them, no person of the name given on the affidavit to the petitions or on the registration records ever lived at the address given; or, in the case of others, such circulators moved either from the address given to parts unknown or to a different precinct, within thirty days of securing names. Nineteen circulators were thus disqualified. We do not deem it necessary to discuss these grounds of alleged disqualification in detail. What we have already said in regard to the qualifications of signers in discussing the contentions of amicus curiae, supra, disposes of some of the alleged grounds of disqualification, the balance of them not being pertinent to this inquiry. We are of the belief that in reference to passing upon the qualifications of circulators, the city clerk is restricted in his examination to a comparison of the signature found on the affidavit of verification attached to the petition with the signature found on the affidavit of registration. The affidavits of verification in each case are admittedly in proper form and raise a presumption in favor of the qualifications of the circulator. No power of investigation or examination, as is conferred on the city clerk by section 273 of the charter in reference to passing upon the validity of signers’ signa

We have discussed, at some length, the duties and powers of the city clerk in reference to his examination of referendum petitions. It must be remembered that his duties are purely ministerial and not judicial. Under the law, he should exercise his powers and perform his duties in such a manner as will, whenever possible, protect rather than defeat the right of the people to exercise their referendary powers.

Let a peremptory writ of mandate be issued, directing the respondent to examine the petitions, in accordance with the conclusions set forth in this opinion.

Concurring and Dissenting. — I concur in the views expressed in the foregoing opinion, except those set forth in paragraph C thereof, the effect of which is to hold that a referendum petition signed by a married woman by using the name of her husband with the prefix, “Mrs.” instead of her own given name is valid and should be so certified by the city clerk. The statute requires that the affidavit of registration of a married woman must show her name at length, including Christian or given name, and middle name or initial, to be preceded by the designation of Mrs. Where the petition is signed by a married woman using her husband’s given name with the designation of Mrs., the city clerk, so the majority opinion holds, must then ascertain whether there is registered at the same

Shenk, J., concurred.