Mark Luce is a registered independent and a member of the Napa County Board of Supervisors. He is running for re-election in November against a registered Democrat. California counties publish Voters Guides that are sent to all voters, and they permit candidates for local office to include a statement about themselves. All California county and city elections are non-partisan.

According to this story, the Napa County Registrar of Voters has told Luce that he cannot say in his statement that he is a registered independent. The law does not permit candidates for non-partisan office to mention their party affiliation in the pamphlet. The Registrar of Voters believes that, therefore, they cannot mention independent status either. Luce complained but the article does not say that he intends to sue.