Section 20527.12.

(a) (1) This section only applies to the James Irrigation District. As used in this section, "district" means the James Irrigation District.

(2) Notwithstanding Section 20527 or any other provision of law, in the district, every owner of real property within the district, but no others, may vote at district elections. Owners need not be residents of the district in order to qualify as voters.

(b) The last equalized district assessment roll is conclusive evidence of ownership of the real property.

(c) (1) If land is owned in joint tenancy, tenancy in common, or any other multiple ownership, the owners of the land shall designate, in writing, which one of the owners is deemed the owner of the land for purposes of qualifying as a voter.

(2) The designation shall be made upon a form provided by the district, and shall be filed with the district at least 40 days prior to the election and shall remain in effect until amended or revoked. No amendment or revocation may occur within the period of 39 days prior to any election.

(d) The district shall provide a list of eligible voters pursuant to Section 10525 of the Elections Code at least 35 days prior to an election, which list shall provide for the limitation of one vote for each owner as specified in this section.

(e) The legal representative of a corporation or estate owning real property may vote on behalf of the corporation or estate.

(f) (1) Every voter, or his or her legal representative, may vote at any district election either in person or by a person appointed as his or her proxy, but may cast only one vote.

(2) The district has the powers of a California water district with regard to Section 35005 and the appointment of a proxy shall be pursuant to that section.

(g) Notwithstanding Section 21100 or any other provision of law, any voter, as specified in this section, may be a member of the board of the district as long as the voter is a landowner within the division that the voter represents, unless divisions are abolished as provided in Section 21550.

(h) (1) As used in this section, "legal representative" means an official of a corporation owning real property or a guardian, conservator, executor, or administrator of the estate of the holder of title to real property who is all of the following:

(A) Appointed under the laws of this state.

(B) Entitled to the possession of the estate's real property.

(C) Authorized by the appointing court to exercise the particular right, privilege, or immunity which the legal representative seeks to exercise.

(2) Before a legal representative votes at a district election, the legal representative shall present to the precinct board a certified copy of his or her authority which shall be kept and filed with the returns of the election.

(i) The board of the district, not less than 120 days before the general district election to be held in 2001, may abolish the divisions of the district for that election. The abolishment of the division shall be effective only for that general district election, unless the question of abolishing the division is presented to the voters at that election and a majority of the votes cast on that question are in favor of abolishing the divisions for future elections.

(j) (1) This section shall be operative as long as the district does not provide water, drainage services, electricity, flood control services, or sewage disposal services for domestic purposes for residents of the district.

(2) (A) This section shall become inoperative if the district commences to provide any of the services described in paragraph (1).

(B) The district shall notify the Secretary of State 30 days prior to commencing to provide any of the services described in paragraph (1). The notice required by this subparagraph shall state that it is being made pursuant to this subdivision.

(Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1078, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2001. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (j).)