2020 California Code
Elections Code - ELEC
DIVISION 13 - BALLOTS, SAMPLE BALLOTS, AND VOTER PAMPHLETS
CHAPTER 3 - Ballot Printing Specifications
ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions
Section 13204.

(a) The instructions to voters shall be printed below the district designation. The instructions shall begin with the words “INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS:” in no smaller than 16-point capital type. Thereafter, there shall be printed in 10-point capital type all of the following directions that are applicable to the ballot:

“To vote for a candidate for Chief Justice of California; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal; or Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, mark the voting target next to the word “Yes,” to the right of the name of the candidate. To vote against that candidate, mark the voting target next to the word “No,” to the right of the name of that candidate.”

“To vote for any other candidate of your selection, mark the voting target next to the candidate’s name. [When justices of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal do not appear on the ballot, the instructions referring to voting after the word “Yes” or the word “No” will be deleted and the above sentence shall read: “To vote for a candidate whose name appears on the ballot, mark the voting target next to the candidate’s name.”] Where two or more candidates for the same office are to be elected, place a mark next to the names of all candidates for the office for whom you desire to vote, not to exceed, however, the number of candidates to be elected.”

“To vote for a qualified write-in candidate, write the person’s name in the blank space provided for that purpose after the names of the other candidates for the same office.”

“To vote on any measure, mark the voting target next to the word “Yes” or after the word “No.”

“Marking the ballot outside of the designated space to vote for a candidate or measure may compromise the secrecy of the ballot.”

“If you wrongly mark, tear, or deface this ballot, return it to the precinct board member and obtain another.”

“On vote by mail ballots mark with pen or pencil.”

(b) The instructions to voters shall be separated from the portion of the ballot that contains the various offices and measures to be voted on.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 863, Sec. 7. (AB 623) Effective January 1, 2020.)