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Committee discusses rural opt‑outs and majority‑vote rule for unified election
Summary
Staff explained rural 'outlined' districts such as Bitterwater and San Lucas may seek opt-outs; the committee was told inclusion is decided by a majority vote across the included territory, not by concurrent majorities in each district, so an isolated 'no' would not automatically veto inclusion.
Committee members asked whether small outlined districts could block a unification by voting down inclusion. Staff explained the election is based on a majority across the entire voting territory, not concurrent majorities in every involved district, meaning a single district's large 'no' vote would not by itself veto the larger measure.
"It is a majority vote. It's not concurrent majorities... Bitter Water in San Benito County doesn't have a veto over this," the staff member said, emphasizing that the committee can recommend exclusion of certain small districts if appropriate but that the decision at the ballot box is an overall majority determination.
