SECTIONS 13260-13267 - California Statutes

ELECTIONS CODE

SECTION 13260-13267

13260. In approving ballots and ballot cards, the Secretary of
State shall not give his or her approval unless the following are
true:
(a) The size, shape, and texture of the ballot card are suitable
for use in the automatic device in which it is intended to be placed.
(b) The ballot cards are so designed that they can readily be
arranged with a section or ballot stub containing the serial number
of the ballot and a section with places for the voter to slot or
punch holes indicating his or her choices of candidates and votes on
measures.
(c) If the ballot is to consist of two or more series of cards,
appropriate provision may be made for identifying the related series
which comprise the ballot.

13261. (a) Each ballot card shall have two stubs attached. The
stubs shall be separated from the ballot card and from each other by
perforated lines so that they may be readily detached.
(b) (1) One stub shall have the serial ballot number printed on
it, and shall be detached from the remainder of the ballot before it
is handed to the voter.
(2) The second stub shall have printed on it all of the following:
(A) The same ballot serial number.
(B) The words "This ballot stub shall be removed and retained by
the voter."
(C) The words "OFFICIAL BALLOT" in uppercase boldface type no
smaller than 12 point.
(D) In primary elections, the party name, e.g., "Democratic Party,"
or the words "Nonpartisan Ballot," as applicable.
(E) The name of the county.
(F) The date of the election.
(G) Where not otherwise provided, instructions to the voter on how
to mark the ballot with the marking device, how to vote for a
candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot, and how to secure
an additional ballot card if the ballot card is spoiled or marked
erroneously.
(3) If the information listed in subparagraphs (A) to (G),
inclusive, of paragraph (2) must also appear in one or more languages
other than English under the provisions of the federal Voting Rights
Act of 1965 as extended by Public Law 94-73, and there is
insufficient room for all the information to be set forth in all the
required languages while at the same time appearing in a type size
sufficiently large to be readable, the official in charge of the
election may delete information set forth in subparagraphs (E) and
(F) of paragraph (2), in the order listed, until there is sufficient
room.
(c) In addition to the instructions to voters printed on the
ballot or ballot stub, there shall be displayed in each voting booth
instructions to voters substantially in the same form and wording as
appears on paper ballots.
Precinct numbers may also be placed on the ballot.

13262. (a) The ballot shall contain the same material as to
candidates and measures, and shall be printed in the same order as
provided for paper ballots, and may be arranged in parallel columns
on one or more ballot cards as required, except that the column in
which the voter marks his or her choices may be at the left of the
names of candidates and the designation of measures.
(b) If there are a greater number of candidates for an office or
for a party nomination for an office than the number whose names can
be placed on one pair of facing ballot pages, a series of overlaying
pages printed only on the same, single side shall be used, and the
ballot shall be clearly marked to indicate that the list of
candidates for the office is continued on the following page or
pages. If the names of candidates for the office are not required to
be rotated, they shall be rotated by groups of candidates in a manner
so that the name of each candidate shall appear on each page of the
ballot in approximately the same number of precincts as the names of
all other candidates.
(c) Space shall be provided on the ballot or on a separate
write-in ballot to permit voters to write in names not printed on the
ballot when authorized by law. The size of the voting square and the
spacing of the material may be varied to suit the conditions imposed
by the use of ballot cards, provided the size of the type is not
reduced below the minimum size requirements set forth in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 13100).
(d) The statement of measure submitted to the voters may be
abbreviated if necessary on the ballot, provided that each and every
statement of measures on that ballot is abbreviated. Abbreviation of
matters to be voted on throughout the state shall be composed by the
Attorney General.

13263. The sample ballot provided pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing
with Section 13300) shall be printed in either of two formats: (a)
booklet form, or (b) on one or more sheets on one or both sides. The
sample ballot shall be printed on white or tinted paper and shall be
a substantial facsimile of the ballot, including instructions to
voters.

13264. If more than one ballot card is used at an election,
different tints of cardboard stock or other suitable means may be
used for each series of ballot cards to facilitate the sorting of
ballots.

13265. If the number of offices and measures to be voted upon at an
election cannot be accommodated on one ballot card, the elections
official may, at his or her discretion, place part of the ballot upon
more than one ballot card. He or she may also place part of the
ballot upon the ballot card or ballot cards and the remainder upon
paper, provided that a single ballot measure or the candidates for a
single office may not be so split.

13266. If punchcard ballots are used for vote by mail voting, the
ballots shall be marked by pencil, or by a marking device that
enables the voter to register his or her vote by punching or slotting
the ballot card. Counting of punchcard ballots marked by pencil may
be as with paper ballots, or a true duplicate copy of each ballot may
be prepared using the same procedure as provided by Section 15271.
Vote by mail voter ballots so prepared shall be counted by the
counting device.

13267. If an official ballot consisting of one or more individual
ballot cards upon which the names of candidates and measures are
printed is used for vote by mail voting, the two stubs specified in
Section 13261 may be eliminated from the ballot cards by printing a
group style number on each card and by printing the information
required by subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) of paragraph
(2) of subdivision (b) of Section 13261 on a separate form
accompanying the official ballot. If the two stubs are not
eliminated, the language required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph
(2) of subdivision (b) of Section 13261 to be printed on the second
stub may be omitted.