Elections: ballots.

(1) Existing law imposes ballot layout specifications, including specific requirements relating to the placement of certain contests, the size and font of text, and the instructions provided to voters. This bill would revise and recast these provisions. The bill would specify the font and location of certain text and would revise the ballot instructions provided to voters. The bill would require those instructions to communicate to voters, in plain language, how to cast a vote in a contest, how to write in a candidate, and what to do if a mistake is made. (2) Existing law requires a ballot for a recall election for a state officer to include the names of the candidates nominated to succeed the officer sought to be recalled and a space to enter the name of a write-in candidate. This bill would additionally require a ballot for a recall election for a state officer to include instructions explaining that the recall election includes two contests, one for whether to recall the officer and the other for the officer's successor if the recall is successful, and that voters may cast a vote in either or both of those contests. (3) Existing law prohibits casting or counting in any election ballots not printed in accordance with the ballot layout specifications prescribed in state law. This bill would instead prohibit casting or counting ballots not printed in substantial compliance with the ballot layout specifications. (4) To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on county elections officials relating to the preparation of ballots, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.