Elections: ballot measures.

Under existing law, whenever a statewide, county, city, or school district measure qualifies for the ballot, specified entities, including bona fide associations of citizens, may file a written argument for or against the measure. If more than one of these entities or individuals submits an argument, existing law directs the appropriate official to select the argument to be printed and distributed based on the identity of the author or authors, which existing law prioritizes, as specified. This bill would require an organization or association submitting an argument for or against a measure to also submit additional information to the appropriate official to enable that official to determine if it qualifies as a bona fide association of citizens. This bill would also prohibit the official from considering the type of documentation submitted or the form of the association when selecting an argument from among associations.