San Mateo County, California, Allow Board of Supervisors to Remove Elected Sheriff for Cause Amendment (March 2025)

San Mateo County Allow Board of Supervisors to Remove Elected Sheriff for Cause Amendment
Election date March 4, 2025
Topic County governance and Local charter amendments
Status Approved
Type Referral

San Mateo County Allow Board of Supervisors to Remove Elected Sheriff for Cause Amendment was on the ballot as a referral in San Mateo County on March 4, 2025. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this charter amendment to allow the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to remove the elected sheriff from office for cause through a four-fifths (4 of 5) vote. The amendment would expire on December 31, 2028.

A "no" vote opposed this charter amendment, meaning the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors would continue to lack the power to remove the elected sheriff from office for cause.

A simple majority (50%+1) was required for the approval of the charter amendment.

Overview

What did the charter amendment change?

The ballot measure allowed the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to remove the sheriff from office for cause through a four-fifths (4 of 5) vote. To do so, the Board of Supervisors would be required to provide the sheriff with a written statement of alleged grounds for removal and give a "reasonable opportunity [for the sheriff] to be heard regarding any explanation or defense." The charter amendment was set to expire on December 31, 2028.

The causes for which a sheriff could be removed are:

• violation of a law related to the performance of a sheriff's duties;
• "flagrant or repeated neglect of a sheriff’s duties;"
• misuse of public funds or properties;
• "willful falsification of a relevant official statement or document;"
• obstruction, as defined in federal, state, or local law, of an investigation into the conduct of the sheriff or sheriff's department.

What was the purpose of the charter amendment according to supporters and opponents?

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-0, with one member absent, to refer the charter amendment to the ballot. Supervisors, in an official statement, said the "ballot measure is the fastest way to give voters a voice" regarding Sheriff Christina Corpus. The board cited an investigative report from retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, which said, “Lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration.” The Board of Supervisors also voted to demand Sheriff Corpus to resign.

Sheriff Corpus said the board pursued "amendments that erode democratic accountability." She added, "Resigning from my position or relinquishing the independence of this Office is not the answer. Such actions would set a dangerous precedent, jeopardizing the progress we've made and the meaningful change our voters entrusted me to deliver."

How is the county sheriff selected in San Mateo County?

In California, the state constitution requires sheriffs to be elected, a requirement that was approved via ballot measure in 1978. In San Mateo County, voters elect the sheriff to a six-year term. The last election was on June 7, 2022, when Christina Corpus defeated incumbent Carlos Bolanos. Corpus received 56.9% of the vote.

In 2005, the California Fourth District Court of Appeal held that charter amendments allowing a board of supervisors to remove an elected sheriff for cause are constitutional. In 2022, voters in Los Angeles County approved a charter amendment, Measure A, allowing the board of supervisors to remove the elected sheriff from office for cause through a four-fifths vote.

Election results

San Mateo County Allow Board of Supervisors to Remove Elected Sheriff for Cause Amendment
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		90,900	84.00%
No		17,318	16.00%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:

“

Shall the measure amending the San Mateo County Charter to grant the Board of Supervisors authority until December 31, 2028 to remove an elected Sheriff from office for cause, including for violation of law related to a Sheriff’s duties, flagrant or repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds, willful falsification of documents, or obstructing an investigation, by a four-fifths vote of the Board of Supervisors, after written notice and an opportunity to be heard, be adopted?

”

Full text

The ballot measure added Section 412.5 to Article IV of the San Mateo County Charter. The following underlined text was added:

Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to view the ballot language.

412.5. Removal of Elected Sheriff for Cause

a. The Board of Supervisors may remove a Sheriff from office for cause, by a four-fifths vote, after a Sheriff has been:

(1) Served with a written statement of alleged grounds for removal; and

(2) Provided a reasonable opportunity to be heard regarding any explanation or defense.

b. For the purposes of this Section 412.5, “cause” shall mean any of the following:

(1) Violation of any law related to the performance of a Sheriff’s duties; or

(2) Flagrant or repeated neglect of a Sheriff’s duties as defined by law; or

(3) Misappropriation of public funds or property as defined in California law; or

(4) Willful falsification of a relevant official statement or document; or

(5) Obstruction, as defined in federal, State, or local law applicable to a Sheriff, of any investigation into the conduct of a Sheriff and/or the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department by any government agency (including the County of San Mateo), office, or commission with jurisdiction to conduct such investigation.

c. The Board of Supervisors may provide for procedures by which a removal proceeding pursuant to this Section 412.5 shall be conducted.

d. This Section 412.5 shall not be applied to interfere with the independent and constitutionally and statutorily designated investigative function of a Sheriff.

e. This Section 412.5 shall sunset and be of no further force and effect as of December 31, 2028 unless extended by voters of San Mateo County.

Support

Arguments

• Supervisor Noelia Corzo: “I want people to understand that our sheriff right now is serving a six-year term, we’re finishing up the second year; there are four more years left before voters have the opportunity to vote for new leadership at the Sheriff’s Office without an intervention like a charter amendment election or a recall. ... At the heart of this problem is the reality that our current sheriff fails to understand, follow or respect not only county policy, but also basic ethics around conflicts of interest and much more."

Opposition

Arguments

• Sheriff Christina Corpus: "There will be an opportunity for these questions and more to come to light, but for now, the real question is whether the county’s actions to date and the proposed charter amendment can be a good justification for taking away voter choice."

Background

California Proposition 6

See also: California Proposition 6, Require Elected County Sheriffs Amendment (June 1978)

In 1978, voters approved California Proposition 6, which required that county sheriffs be elected offices in all counties, whether chartered or non-chartered. The vote was 60.8% 'Yes' to 39.2% 'No'. Before Proposition 6, state law required county sheriffs to be elected in non-chartered counties, but charter counties could decide whether to have a sheriff and whether the position was elected or appointed.

Los Angeles County Measure A

See also: Los Angeles County, Measure A, Removal of Sheriff for Cause Amendment (November 2022)

In 2022, voters in Los Angeles County, California, approved Measure A, which allowed the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to remove the elected sheriff from office for cause through a four-fifths (4 of 5) vote. The vote was 71.8% 'Yes' to 28.2% 'No'.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in California

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0, with one member absent, on December 3, 2024, to place the charter amendment on the special election ballot for March 4, 2025. Supervisors Dave Pine, Noelia Corzo, Ray Mueller, and Warren Slocum voted for the amendment. Supervisor David Canepa was absent.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California

Poll times

All polls in California are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in California, an individual must be a U.S. citizen and California resident. A voter must be at least 18 years of age on Election Day. Pre-registration is available at 16 years of age. Pre-registered voters are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18.

Automatic registration

California automatically registers eligible individuals to vote when they complete a driver's license, identification (ID) card, or change of address transaction through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Learn more by visiting this website.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

California has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

California allows same-day voter registration.

Californians must be registered to vote at least 15 days before Election Day. If the registration deadline has passed for an upcoming election, voters may visit a location designated by their county elections official during the 14 days prior to, and including Election Day to conditionally register to vote and vote a provisional ballot, which are counted once county election officials have completed the voter registration verification process. The state refers to this process as Same Day Voter Registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in California, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

California's constitution requires that voters be U.S. citizens. When registering to vote, proof of citizenship is not required. Individuals who become U.S. citizens less than 15 days before an election must bring proof of citizenship to their county elections office to register to vote in that election. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

As of November 2024, two jurisdictions in California had authorized noncitizen residents to vote for local board of education positions through local ballot measures. Only one of those jurisdictions, San Francisco, had implemented that law. Noncitizens voting for board of education positions must register to vote using a separate application from the state voter registration application.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The secretary of state's My Voter Status website allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

California does not require voters to present identification before casting a ballot in most cases.

On September 29, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 1174 into law prohibiting any jurisdiction in the state from adopting a local law that requires voters to present ID before voting.

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote.

The following list of accepted ID to comply with HAVA requirements was current as of October 2025. Click here for the California Secretary of State page to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Current and valid photo identification provided by a third party in the ordinary course of business that includes the name and photograph of the individual presenting it. Examples of photo identification include, but are not limited to, the following documents: driver's license or identification card of any state; passport; employee identification card; identification card provided by a commercial establishment; credit or debit card; military identification card; student identification card; health club identification card; insurance plan identification card; or public housing identification card. Any of the following documents, provided that the document includes the name and address of the individual presenting it, and is dated since the date of the last general election…: utility bill; bank statement; government check; government paycheck; document issued by a governmental agency; sample ballot or other official elections document issued by a governmental, agency dated for the election in which the individual is providing it as proof, of residency or identity; voter notification card issued by a governmental agency; public housing identification card issued by a governmental agency; lease or rental statement or agreement issued by a governmental agency; student identification card issued by a governmental agency; tuition statement or bill issued by a governmental agency; insurance plan card or drug discount card issued by a governmental agency; discharge certificates, pardons, or other official documents issued to the individual by a governmental agency in connection with the resolution of a criminal case, indictment, sentence, or other matter; public transportation authority senior citizen and disabled discount cards issued by a governmental agency; identification documents issued by governmental disability agencies; identification documents issued by government homeless shelters and other government temporary or transitional facilities; drug prescription issued by a government doctor or other governmental health care provider; property tax statement issued by a governmental agency; vehicle registration issued by a governmental agency; or vehicle certificate of ownership issued by a governmental agency.

”

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2025
• Local charter amendments on the ballot

• San Mateo County measures

California

• California 2025 local measures
• Local ballot measures, California
• San Mateo County, California

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

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