2007 California Elections Code Article 5. Ballot Titles

CA Codes (elec:9050-9054)

9050.  The Attorney General shall provide and return to the
Secretary of State a ballot title for each measure submitted to the
voters of the whole state.


9051.  Any person who is interested in any proposed measure may at
any time, prior to 150 days before the election at which the measure
is to be voted upon, file a copy of it with the Secretary of State,
together with a request that a ballot title be prepared for it.  This
request shall be accompanied by the address of the person or
association of persons proposing the measure.  The Secretary of State
shall immediately transmit a copy of the measure to the Attorney
General.  Within 10 days after it is filed, the Attorney General
shall provide and return to the Secretary of State a ballot title for
the measure.  The ballot title may differ from the legislative or
other title of the measure and shall express in not exceeding 100
words the purpose of the measure.  In providing the ballot title, the
Attorney General shall give a true and impartial statement of the
purpose of the measure in such language that the ballot title shall
neither be an argument, nor be likely to create prejudice, for or
against the proposed measure.


9052.  Immediately upon receipt of the ballot title prepared by the
Attorney General, the Secretary of State shall mail to all persons
who may have requested the preparation of that ballot title, a notice
addressed to them at the address accompanying the request, stating
that the Attorney General has made and returned the ballot title.
The notice shall also contain a copy of the ballot title prepared by
the Attorney General.



9053.  Each measure shall be designated on the ballot by the ballot
title certified to the Secretary of State by the Attorney General.



9054.  (a) Whenever a city, county, or city and county is required
by Section 203 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1973aa-1a) or Section 4(f)(4) (42
U.S.C. Sec. 1973b(f)(4)) of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 to
provide a translation of ballot materials in a language other than
English, the Secretary of State shall provide a translation of the
ballot title prepared pursuant to Section 9050 and of the condensed
statement of the ballot title prepared pursuant to Section 13247 in
that language to the city, county, or city and county for each state
measure submitted to the voters in a statewide election not later
than 68 days prior to that election.
   (b) When preparing a translation in a language other than English
pursuant to subdivision (a), the Secretary of State shall consult
with an advisory body consisting of language experts and nonpartisan
organizations that advocate on behalf of, or provide services to,
individuals that speak that language.
   (c) All translations prepared pursuant to this section shall be
made available for public examination in the same time and manner as
the ballot pamphlet is made available for public examination in
accordance with Section 88006 of the Government Code and Section 9092
of this code.
   (d) The local elections official shall use that translation of the
condensed statement of the ballot title on the sample ballot and the
official ballot and may not select or contract with another person
to provide translations of the same text.