Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures

SB 29 requires that all petition signature pages and ballot questions include summaries written in plain, clear language that voters can easily understand - prohibiting legal jargon, double negatives, and passive voice. It mandates that petition sponsors provide a concise summary of the proposal’s policy change and practical outcomes of voting choices, alongside the full text of the proposal. The bill also sets new deadlines (by July 1 before general elections) for election officials to prepare and certify ballot language, adds a 15-day public comment period for proposed ballot descriptions, and requires officials to post key information online for voters. This directly affects petition organizers, voters, and election boards by standardizing how ballot initiatives are explained. The law aims to increase transparency and accessibility in the ballot initiative process.