reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13212.

13212. Except for a voter-nominated office at a general election, under the designation of each office shall be printed as many blank spaces, defined by light lines, as there are candidates to be nominated or elected to the office.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 28. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13213.

13213. Each group of names of candidates for a particular office shall be separated from the succeeding group. Each series of groups shall be headed by a caption that reads “President of the United States,” “President and Vice President,” “State,” “United States Senator,” “United States Representative,” “State Senator,” “Member of the State Assembly,” “County,” or “City” or other proper general classification, as the case may be, printed in at least 10-point bold type. Each caption shall be separated from the names of the candidates beneath.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 29. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13214.

13214. All sides of the columns on the ballot shall be bordered. The binding or stitching of each package of ballots shall be along the top or head of the ballot. If ballots are to be used on a ballot on demand system or another system that prints content onto ballots, ballots are not required to be bound or stitched.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 30. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13215.

13215. (a) The ballots may be printed on the same leaf with a stub not over one inch in depth. The stub may be separated from the ballot by a horizontal perforated line or rule from side to side. Upon this stub shall be printed only the number of the ballot.
(b) Stubs are not required on ballots to be used on a ballot on demand system or another system that prints content onto the ballot.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 18. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13216.

13216. A ballot stub may be used for a ballot. The ballots may contain printed and distinguishing marks if secrecy in voting is protected.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 32. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13217.

13217. (a) The number on each ballot shall be the same as that on the corresponding stub, and the ballots and stubs shall be numbered consecutively in each county, or the ballots and stubs may be numbered consecutively within each combination of congressional, senatorial, and Assembly districts in each county. In a partisan primary election, the sequence of numbers on the official ballots and stubs for each party within each county, or within each political subdivision in each county, shall begin with the number 1.
(b) In counties using vote centers, ballots may be serialized in the way that best promotes ballot accounting and with the greatest economic efficiency for the county.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 21. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13218.

13218. (a) The Secretary of State shall establish a ballot design advisory committee to assist the Secretary of State to promulgate regulations that prescribe ballot design and format.
(b) The ballot design advisory committee shall consist of the Secretary of State, or the secretary’s designee, and members to be appointed by the Secretary of State who are recognized ballot design experts and county elections officials or a designee of a county elections official. Each recognized ballot design expert shall have demonstrated experience with ballot design requirements and knowledge of presenting election materials to voters using plain language methods or another method that is easy for voters to access and understand.
(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 22. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13219.

13219. When printed, all ballots shall be bound in stub books, of such size as the clerk may determine. A record of the number of ballots printed shall be kept by the officer authorizing the printing. If stubs are not used pursuant to Section 13216, ballots may be bound by another method determined by the county elections official.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 23. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions › Section 13220.

13220. If two or more officers are to be elected for the same office for different terms, the terms for which each candidate for the office is nominated shall be printed on the ballot as a part of the title of the office. If at a general election an office is to be filled for a full term and also for a vacancy in another term, the list of candidates for the full term shall be placed on the ballot under the designation of the office with the words “Full Term” printed immediately after that designation, and the list of candidates to fill the vacancy shall be placed on the ballot under the designation of the office with the words “Short Term” printed immediately after that designation.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 2 - Allowable Changes in Ballot Format and Printing › Section 13230.

13230. (a) If the county elections official determines that, due to the number of candidates and measures that must be printed on the ballot, the ballot will be larger than may be conveniently handled, the county elections official may provide that a nonpartisan ballot shall be given to each partisan voter, together with his or her partisan ballot, and that the material appearing under the heading “Voter-Nominated and Nonpartisan Offices” on partisan ballots, as well as the heading itself, shall be omitted from the partisan ballots.
(b) If the county elections official so provides, the procedure prescribed for the handling and canvassing of ballots shall be modified to the extent necessary to permit the use of two ballots by partisan voters. The county elections official may, in this case, order the second ballot to be printed on paper of a different tint, and assign to those ballots numbers higher than those assigned to the ballots containing partisan offices.
(c) “Partisan voters,” for purposes of this section, includes both persons who have disclosed a party preference pursuant to Section 2151 or 2152 and persons who have declined to disclose a party preference, but who have chosen to vote the ballot of a political party as authorized by that party’s rules duly noticed to the Secretary of State.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 3, Sec. 41. (AB 1413) Effective February 10, 2012.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 2 - Allowable Changes in Ballot Format and Printing › Section 13231.

13231. If the elections official of any county finds it necessary in connection with the use of any approved method of vote counting, the elections official may provide for any of the following changes in the format of ballots in one or more precincts at any election:
(a) Ballots may be bound and padded at the side.
(b) The left and right edge of ballots may be trimmed to the edge of printed material.
(c) A series of punched holes may be provided in the upper right-hand portion of each ballot.
(d) The ballot number may be placed at any place along the top left-hand corner of the ballot.
(e) A cutout section, not to exceed two inches in depth, commencing at the left-hand edge of the far right column of the ballot, may be provided along the top edge of the ballot.
(f) Press perforations may be placed between columns of the ballot, from top to bottom, to permit the folding of the ballot at each perforation.
(g) “Yes” and “No” columns where necessary, may be as narrow as one-quarter inch wide.
(h) The instructions to voters may be placed at the bottom of the ballot instead of at the top of the ballot, and an appropriate reference to the location of the instructions may be printed in the upper right portion of the ballot.
(i) The ballot serial number may be placed on any position of the ballot that does not impact other required text or voting targets on the ballot card.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 24. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 2 - Allowable Changes in Ballot Format and Printing › Section 13232.

13232. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of conducting the Democratic Party Presidential Primary Election, the Secretary of State may, if it is reasonably necessary to accommodate the limitations of a voter system or vote tabulating device, authorize the county elections officials to do any or all of the following:
(a) Vary the order of any office or measure listed in Section 13109, with the exception of President of the United States, United States Representative, State Senator, Member of the Assembly, and judicial offices.
(b) Place any office listed in Section 13109 on a second ballot, with the exception of United States Representative, State Senator, Member of the State Assembly, judicial offices, County Superintendent of Schools, County Board of Education Members, and county officers.
(c) Place any ballot measure, other than a state measure, on a separate ballot.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 2 - Allowable Changes in Ballot Format and Printing › Section 13233.

13233. In a municipal election, if the number of candidates for an office is such that all of the names will not fit in one column of reasonable length, a double column may be used, and all of the following provisions shall apply:
(a) The space between the two halves of the double column shall be less than that between the double column and any other columns on the ballot, and the lines separating the columns and the two halves of the double column shall be printed so as to emphasize the fact that the candidates in the double column are running for the same office.
(b) The designation of the office and any other words required to be at the top of the contest shall be printed across the top of the entire double column with no dividing line. The words “Vote for one,” “Vote for two,” or more, as the case may be, shall be centered over the entire double column and shall be printed below any other words at the top of the double column.
(c) The names of the candidates, including the blank space or spaces necessary to permit the voter to write in the names of persons not printed on the ballot, shall be apportioned as equally as possible between the two columns. The odd space, if any, shall be included in the left-hand column.
(d) The double column shall be used for no more than one office and for no more than one term for any office.
(e) The order of names and blank spaces in the double column shall be the same as would apply to a single column with the left-hand side of the double column taken first.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 34. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13240.

13240. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code, the ballots to be counted by means of electronic or electromechanical devices may be of a size, composition, and texture that, and may be printed in any type of ink or combination of inks that, will be suitable for use in the counting devices in which they are intended to be placed.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13241.

13241. The names of the candidates and the respective offices shall be printed on the ballot in parallel columns at least 2 inches wide.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 57, Sec. 8. (AB 2835) Effective January 1, 2019.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13242.

13242. Where electromechanical vote tabulating devices are used to count all or part of the ballots, the names of presidential candidates may be printed in the same column as the names of candidates for other offices.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13243.

13243. The ballots may contain printed code marks or punched holes that may be used for placing the ballots in correct reading position in the counting devices. The code marks or punched holes shall not be used in any way that will reveal the identity of the voters voting the ballots.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13244.

13244. The county voter information guide provided pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 13300) shall include a substantial facsimile of the official ballot, including instructions to voters.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 61. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13246.

13246. The device for marking the ballot may be of any size, shape, or form, and the impression made on the ballot may be in the form of a cross, square, circle, rectangle, or any other design that will clearly indicate the choice of the voter. Any type of ink or other substance that will clearly show the voter’s choice may be used in or in conjunction with the marking device.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 3 - Vote Tabulating Devices › Section 13247.

13247. The statement of all measures submitted to the voters shall be abbreviated on the ballot in a ballot label as provided for in Section 9051. The ballot label shall be followed by the words, “Yes” and “No”, except for a statewide referendum measure. The ballot label for a statewide referendum measure shall be followed by the words, “Keep the law” and “Overturn the law.”
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 162, Sec. 9. (AB 421) Effective September 8, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications › ARTICLE 5 - Ballot Labels › Section 13282.

13282. Whenever the Attorney General prepares a condensed ballot title and summary, the Attorney General shall file a copy of the condensed ballot title and summary with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall make a copy of the condensed ballot title and summary as required by subdivision (c) of Section 9051 available for public examination prior to the printing of the ballot label on any ballot. The public shall be permitted to examine the condensed ballot title and summary for at least 20 days, and the Secretary of State may consolidate the examination requirement under this section with the public examination requirements set forth in Section 9092. A voter may seek a writ of mandate requiring a condensed ballot title and summary, or portion thereof, to be amended or deleted. The provisions set forth in Section 9092 concerning the issuance of the writ and the nature of the proceedings shall be applicable to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 751, Sec. 8. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13300.

13300. (a) By at least 29 days before the partisan primary, each county elections official shall prepare a separate county voter information guide for each political party and a separate nonpartisan county voter information guide. The county elections official shall place in each guide, as applicable, in the order provided in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 13100), and under the appropriate title of each office, the names of all candidates for whom nomination papers have been duly filed with the county elections official or have been certified to the county elections official by the Secretary of State, to be voted for in the county elections official’s county at the partisan primary election.
(b) The county voter information guides shall include a substantial facsimile of the official ballots, except as otherwise provided by law. The county voter information guides shall be printed on paper of a different texture from the paper to be used for the official ballot.
(c) One county voter information guide of the party for which the voter has disclosed a preference, as evidenced by the voter’s registration, shall be mailed no later than 10 days before the election to each voter entitled to vote at the primary who registered at least 29 days before the election. A nonpartisan county voter information guide shall be so mailed to each voter who is not registered as preferring any of the parties participating in the primary election. On election day the voter may, upon request, vote the ballot of a political party if authorized by the party’s rules, duly noticed to the Secretary of State.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 566, Sec. 2. (SB 151) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13300.5.

13300.5. In order to facilitate the timely production and distribution of county voter information guides, the county elections official may prepare a combined county voter information guide.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 65. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13300.7.

13300.7. Notwithstanding any other law, county and city elections officials may establish procedures designed to permit a voter to opt out of receiving the voter’s county voter information guide, state voter information guide, notice of polling place, and associated materials by mail, and instead obtain them electronically via email or by accessing them on the county’s or city’s internet website, if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The procedures establish a method of providing notice of and an opportunity by which a voter can notify elections officials of the voter’s desire to obtain ballot materials electronically in lieu of receiving them by mail.
(b) The voter email address or any other information provided by the voter under this section remains confidential pursuant to Section 7924.000 of the Government Code and Section 2194 of this code.
(c) The procedures provide notice and opportunity for a voter who has opted out of receiving a county voter information guide and other materials by mail to opt back into receiving them by mail.
(d) The procedures establish a process by which a voter can apply electronically to become a vote by mail voter.
(e) A voter may only opt out of, or opt back into, receiving the voter’s county voter information guide and other ballot materials by mail if the elections official receives the request and can process it before the statutory deadline for the mailing of those materials for the next election, pursuant to Section 13303. If a voter misses this deadline, the request shall take effect the following election.
(f) The procedures shall include a verification process to confirm the voter’s identity in any of the following manners:
(1) In writing with a signature card that can be matched to the one on file with the elections official.
(2) Electronically with the electronic transmission containing the voter’s California driver’s license number, California identification number, or a partial social security number.
(3) By telephone or in person, upon confirmation of the voter’s date of birth, residence address, and California driver’s license number, California identification number, or a partial social security number.
(g) Information made available over the internet pursuant to this section shall meet or exceed the most current, ratified standards under Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794d), as amended, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility. Election officials may also implement recommendations of the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee made pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 2053, and of any local Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee created pursuant to the guidelines promulgated by the Secretary of State related to the accessibility of polling places by the physically handicapped.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 44. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13302.

13302. (a) The county elections official shall forthwith submit the county voter information guide of each political party to the chairperson of the county central committee of that party, and shall mail a copy to each candidate for whom nomination papers have been filed in his or her office or whose name has been certified to him or her by the Secretary of State, to the post office address given in the nomination paper or certification. The county elections official shall post a copy of each county voter information guide in a conspicuous place in his or her office.
(b) In connection with an election at which a candidate for a voter-nominated office will appear on the ballot, a qualified political party may submit to the county elections official a list of all candidates for voter-nominated office who will appear on a ballot in the county in question, and who have been endorsed by the party by whatever lawful mechanism the party adopts for endorsing candidates for voter-nominated office. If a political party timely submits a list to the county elections official pursuant to this subdivision, the county elections official shall print the names of the candidates for voter-nominated office who were endorsed by that political party in the voter information portion of the county voter information guide. The party chairperson shall provide a written copy of the list of candidates endorsed by the party not later than 83 days before the election at which the candidate for a voter-nominated office will appear on the ballot.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 67. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13303.

13303. (a) For each election, each appropriate elections official shall cause to be printed, on plain white paper or tinted paper, without watermark, at least as many copies of the form of ballot provided for use in each voting precinct as there are voters in the precinct. These copies shall be designated “county voter information guide” upon their face and shall include a substantial facsimile of the official ballots used in the election, except as otherwise provided by law. A county voter information guide shall be mailed, postage prepaid, no later than 21 days before the election to each voter who is registered at least 29 days before the election.
(b) The elections official shall send notice of the polling place, which includes vote centers, to each voter with the county voter information guide. Only official matter shall be sent out with the county voter information guide as provided by law.
(c) The elections official shall send notice of the polling place, which includes vote centers, to each voter who registered after the 29th day before the election and is eligible to participate in the election. The notice shall also include information as to where the voter can obtain a county voter information guide and a state voter information guide before the election, a statement indicating that those documents will be available at the polling place at the time of the election, and the address of the Secretary of State’s internet website and, if applicable, of the county internet website where a county voter information guide may be viewed.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 566, Sec. 3. (SB 151) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13304.

13304. The notice of the polling place which is sent to each voter as provided in Section 13303 may, at the option of the local elections official, inform the voter as to whether the polling place is accessible to the physically handicapped. In addition, this notice may inform the voter of his or her rights under Section 14282, if applicable.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 72, Sec. 2. Effective July 19, 2005.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13305.

13305. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 13300 and 13303 a county elections official may elect not to mail a county voter information guide to a voter if both of the following are satisfied:
(1) The county elections official prepares and mails to each voter a document that includes all of the information required to be included in, and shall be accompanied by all the election materials required to accompany, the county voter information guide.
(2) The voter is furnished with an official ballot pursuant to Section 3005 or 3010.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 13303, for each voter to whom the elections official elects not to mail a county voter information guide pursuant to subdivision (a), the elections official may cause to be printed one less copy of the county voter information guide.
(c) If a county elections official elects not to mail a county voter information guide to a voter pursuant to this section, the elections official shall use any savings achieved to offset the costs associated with establishing a free access system for vote by mail ballots pursuant to Section 3019.5 before the savings may be used for any other purpose.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 161, Sec. 27. (AB 2608) Effective August 22, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13306.

13306. Notwithstanding Sections 13300, 13303, and 13307, county voter information guides and candidates’ statements need not be mailed to voters who registered after the 54th day before an election, but all of these voters shall receive polling place notices and state voter information guides. A state voter information guide is not required to be mailed to a voter who registered after the 29th day before an election. Each of these voters shall receive a notice in bold print that states: “Because you are a late registrant, you are not receiving a county voter information guide or candidates’ statements.”
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 70. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13307.5.

13307.5. A candidate for United States Representative may purchase the space to place a statement in the voter information portion of the county voter information guide that does not exceed 250 words. The statement shall not refer to any opponent of the candidate. The statement shall be submitted in accordance with the timeframes and procedures set forth in this code for the preparation of the voter information portion of the county voter information guide.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 72. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13307.7.

13307.7. (a) An elections official shall post the form to be used by a candidate to submit a candidate statement pursuant to Section 13307, Section 13307.5, or subdivision (c) of Section 85601 of the Government Code, on the elections official’s internet website, and shall accept the electronic submission of that form if it is submitted in accordance with the times and procedures set forth in this code for the preparation of the voter information portion of the county voter information guide. If the candidate is running in a multicounty district, the elections official of each county shall accept the electronic submission of the form from the candidate’s county of residence; however, the candidate shall transmit a hard copy of the candidate statement form, any accompanying form, and payment of the requisite fee to each county by overnight mail within 72 hours of filing the statement electronically. The elections official shall not require the candidate to submit any additional forms as a means of correcting internet website posting errors made by the elections official.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an elections official may require a candidate to provide additional information that the official needs to comply with state law and county voter information guide requirements.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 664, Sec. 2. (AB 773) Effective October 10, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13308.

13308. In addition to the restrictions set forth in Section 13307, any candidate’s statement submitted pursuant to Section 13307 shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications, and shall not in any way make reference to other candidates for that office or to another candidate’s qualifications, character, or activities. The elections official shall not cause to be printed, posted on an Internet Web site, or circulated any statement that the elections official determines is not so limited or that includes any reference prohibited by this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 128, Sec. 2. (AB 2010) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13309.

13309. (a) Notwithstanding Section 13307, if a candidate alleges to be indigent and unable to pay in advance the requisite fee for submitting a candidate statement, the candidate shall submit to the local agency a statement of financial worth to be used in determining whether or not he or she is eligible to submit a candidate statement without payment of the fee in advance.
(b) The statement of financial worth required by this section shall be submitted by the candidate together with his or her candidate statement in accordance with the deadline specified in Section 13307. The statement of financial worth form shall be furnished by the local agency, and may include questions relating to the candidate’s employer, income, real estate holdings, tangible personal property, and financial obligations. The candidate shall certify the content of the statement as to its truth and correctness under penalty of perjury. The candidate shall also sign a release form of the candidate’s most recent federal income tax report.
(c) Upon receipt of a statement of financial worth, a determination shall be made by the local agency of whether or not the candidate is indigent. The local agency shall notify the candidate of its findings.
(d) If it is determined that the candidate is not indigent, the candidate shall, within three days of the notification, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, withdraw the statement or pay the requisite fee. If the candidate fails to respond within the time prescribed, the local agency shall not be obligated to print and mail the statement.
(e) If the local agency determines that the candidate is indigent, the local agency shall print and mail the statement.
(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the local agency from billing the candidate his or her actual pro rata share of the cost after the election.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 560, Sec. 11. (AB 1417) Effective January 1, 2014.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13310.

13310. Prior to the nomination period for an election, the governing body of the local agency conducting the election may determine that Section 13307 is inapplicable to that election. This section shall become operative only if the United States Supreme Court or the California Supreme Court rules that candidates (other than indigent candidates) may not be required to pay for candidates’ statements authorized pursuant to Section 13307.
(Enacted by Stats. 1994, Ch. 920, Sec. 2. Section conditionally operative by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13311.

13311. Notwithstanding the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), the statements filed pursuant to Section 13307 shall remain confidential until the expiration of the filing deadline.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 99. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13312.

13312. (a) Each county voter information guide prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13307 shall contain a notice in the heading of the first page, not smaller than 10-point type, that specifies both of the following:
(1) That the county voter information guide does not contain a complete list of candidates and that a complete list of candidates appears on the sample ballot (if any candidate is not listed in the county voter information guide).
(2) That each candidate’s statement in the county voter information guide is volunteered by the candidate and (if printed at the candidate’s expense) is printed at the candidate’s expense.
(b) If a local agency has authorized each candidate for nonpartisan elective office to prepare a candidate’s statement for the purpose of electronic distribution pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13307, and if a candidate has submitted a statement for that purpose, the notice required by subdivision (a) shall specify that additional statements are available on the internet website of the elections official and shall include the internet website address at which the statements may be viewed.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 56. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13313.

13313. (a) The elections official shall make a copy of the material referred to in Section 13307 available for public examination in the elections official’s office for a period of 10 calendar days immediately following the filing deadline for submission of those documents. Any person may obtain a copy of the candidate’s statements from the elections official for use outside of the elections official’s office. The elections official may charge a fee to any person obtaining a copy of the material, and the fee may not exceed the actual cost incurred by the elections official in providing the copy.
(b) (1) During the 10-calendar-day public examination period provided by this section, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or the elections official, himself or herself, may seek a writ of mandate or an injunction requiring any or all of the material in the candidates statements to be amended or deleted. The writ of mandate or injunction request shall be filed no later than the end of the 10-calendar-day public examination period.
(2) A peremptory writ of mandate or an injunction shall issue only upon clear and convincing proof that the material in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter, and that issuance of the writ or injunction will not substantially interfere with the printing or distribution of official election materials as provided by law.
(3) The elections official shall be named as respondent and the candidate who authored the material in question shall be named as the real party in interest. In the case of the elections official bringing the mandamus or injunctive action pursuant to this subdivision, the board of supervisors of the county shall be named as the respondent and the candidate who authored the material in question shall be named as the real party in interest.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 228, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2003.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13314.

13314. (a) (1) An elector may seek a writ of mandate alleging that an error or omission has occurred, or is about to occur, in the placing of a name on, or in the printing of, a ballot, county voter information guide, state voter information guide, or other official matter, or that any neglect of duty has occurred, or is about to occur.
(2) A peremptory writ of mandate shall issue only upon proof of both of the following:
(A) That the error, omission, or neglect is in violation of this code or the Constitution.
(B) That issuance of the writ will not substantially interfere with the conduct of the election.
(3) The action or appeal shall have priority over all other civil matters.
(4) The Secretary of State shall be named as a respondent or a real party in interest in any proceeding under this section concerning a measure or a candidate described in Section 15375, except for a candidate for judge of the superior court.
(b) Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County in any of the following cases:
(1) The Secretary of State is named as a real party in interest or as a respondent.
(2) A candidate for statewide elective office is named as a party.
(3) A statewide measure that is to be placed on the ballot is the subject of the proceeding.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 74. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13316.

13316. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a county, city, city and county, or district using voting machines may use reasonable facsimiles of the county voter information guides sent to the voters of the local jurisdiction as vote by mail ballots.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 76. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 4 - State and County Voter Information Guides › Section 13317.

13317. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a county, city, city and county, or district using vote tabulating devices may use reasonable facsimiles of the county voter information guides sent to the voters of the local jurisdiction as vote by mail ballots.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 422, Sec. 77. (AB 2911) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 5 - Facsimile Copies of Ballots › Section 13400.

13400. (a) A vote by mail voter may request that a facsimile copy of his or her ballot in the language of his or her preference be sent to him or her by regular mail or electronic mail if the voter lives in a precinct that requires a facsimile copy of the ballot in that language pursuant to Section 14201. The county elections officer shall provide instructions to vote by mail voters in the county voter information guide and on the county elections Internet Web site on how to request a facsimile copy of a ballot, in all languages that the county is required to provide facsimile copies of ballots. A vote by mail voter may request a facsimile copy of a ballot by telephone, mail, online, or when requesting a vote by mail ballot from the county no later than seven days before election day.
(b) The county elections official shall prepare the requested facsimile copies described in subdivision (a) no later than 10 days before election day. Requests received by the county elections official 10 days or more before election day shall be processed by the 10th day prior to election day.
(c) This section does not limit an elections official from distributing facsimile copies of the ballot more widely than as required by subdivision (a) or earlier than required by subdivision (b).
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 845, Sec. 7. (AB 918) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 6 - Partisan Primary Elections › Section 13500.

13500. This chapter applies only to partisan primary elections.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 819, Sec. 1. (AB 837) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 6 - Partisan Primary Elections › Section 13501.

13501. (a) The Secretary of State shall include in the state voter information guide the information specified in subdivision (a) of Section 9083.5, including a statement explaining that a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference may not vote in a political party’s primary election unless the political party has authorized a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in its primary election.
(b) The Secretary of State shall make all of the following information available on the Secretary of State’s Internet Web site:
(1) A statement that a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference may vote in a political party’s partisan primary election if the political party, by party rule duly noticed to the Secretary of State, authorizes a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in the next ensuing partisan primary election.
(2) The name of each political party that authorizes a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in the partisan primary election.
(3) A statement that a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference may request the ballot of one of the political parties that authorizes a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference to vote in the partisan primary election.
(c) A county elections official shall include all of the information described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (b) in the nonpartisan county voter information guide prepared pursuant to Section 13300 and shall make the information available on the official’s Internet Web site. In addition, the county elections official shall send an email to the email address of a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference notifying the voter that he or she may request a political party’s ballot at the next ensuing partisan primary election if the political party has so authorized. The county elections official shall also provide the notice to a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference by text message if the voter has provided written consent to receive text messages from the county elections official.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 819, Sec. 1. (AB 837) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Elections Code - ELEC › DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS › CHAPTER 6 - Partisan Primary Elections › Section 13502.5.

13502.5. (a) This section applies to a nonpartisan ballot provided to a voter who has declined to disclose a political party preference for use in voting in a presidential primary election.
(b) (1) A notice shall be printed on the ballot, in substantially the following form, that advises the voter of at least the following information:
(A) You are registered as a No Party Preference voter and therefore ineligible to vote for a presidential candidate unless you request and vote a partisan ballot.
(B) The following parties allow a No Party Preference voter to vote in their presidential primaries: [list of parties]. You may request a ballot to vote in one of these primaries from your county elections official.
(2) The notice printed on the ballot shall also advise the voter that they may find the additional information described in subdivision (c) in the voter information guide or on the county elections official’s internet website.
(c) The notice printed on the ballot may advise the voter of additional information, including the following:
(1) A list of means available in the county for the voter to request a partisan ballot.
(2) A statement that if the voter wishes to vote in the presidential primary of a partythat does not permit a No Party Preference voter to vote, the voter must update their voter registration and request the ballot of that party.
(3) A list of means available in the county for the voter to request a remote accessible vote by mail ballot, in case the voter is unable to request and receive a partisan ballot in time to return it for an upcoming election.
(4) A description of the county’s procedures for accepting and processing a remote accessible vote by mail ballot.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 646, Sec. 2. (AB 292) Effective January 1, 2024.)