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AB-2796 Elections: ballot measures. (2009-2010)

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Assembly Bill No. 2796
CHAPTER 401

An act to amend Sections 9166, 9501, and 9503, relating to Elections.

[ Approved by Governor  September 25, 2010. Filed with Secretary of State  September 27, 2010. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2796, Committee on Elections and Redistricting. Elections: ballot measures.
Under existing law, whenever a county measure or a school measure qualifies for the ballot, arguments for or against the measure may be submitted to the voters of the county or district. An argument for or against a county measure or a school measure may be submitted to elections officials by any member or members of the governing board authorized by the board to submit an argument.
This bill would delete the requirement that a member of the board be authorized by the board in order to submit an argument to elections officials for or against a county measure or a school measure.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 9166 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9166.
 If more than one argument for or more than one argument against any county measure is submitted to the county elections official within the time prescribed, the county elections official shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the arguments against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. In selecting the argument the county elections official shall give preference and priority in the order named to the arguments of the following:
(a) The board of supervisors or a member or members of the board.
(b) The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure.
(c) Bona fide associations of citizens.
(d) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.

SEC. 2.

 Section 9501 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9501.
 (a) The governing board of the district or any member or members of the board, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of such voters and associations may file a written argument for or against any school measure. No argument shall exceed 300 words in length. The elections official shall cause an argument for and an argument against the measure, if submitted, to be printed, and shall include the arguments, preceded by the analysis, in the voter information pamphlet that accompanies the sample ballot.
(b) Printed arguments submitted to voters in accordance with this section shall be titled either “Argument in Favor of Measure ____” or “Argument Against Measure ____,” accordingly, the blank spaces being filled in only with the letter or number, if any, designating the measure. At the discretion of the elections official, the word “Proposition” may be substituted for the word “Measure” in the titles. Words used in the title shall not be counted when determining the length of any measure.

SEC. 3.

 Section 9503 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

9503.
 If more than one argument for or more than one argument against any school measure is submitted to the person conducting the election within the time prescribed, the person conducting the election shall select one of the arguments in favor and one of the arguments against the measure for printing and distribution to the voters. In selecting the arguments, the person conducting the election shall give preference and priority, in the order named, to the arguments of the following:
(a) The governing board of the district or a member or members of the board.
(b) The individual voter, or bona fide associations of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure.
(c) Bona fide associations of citizens.
(d) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure.