(a) A “ballot” is the presentation of the contests consisting of offices and measures, and the candidates and choices to be voted on.

(b) The ballot presentations shall include either of the following:

Terms Used In California Elections Code 301

  • Ballot card: means a card or a number of cards upon which are printed, or identified by reference to the ballot, the names of candidates for nomination or election to one or more offices or the ballot titles of one or more measures. See California Elections Code 302
  • Voter: means any elector who is registered under this code. See California Elections Code 359
  • Voting system: means a mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic system and its software, or any combination of these used for casting a ballot, tabulating votes, or both. See California Elections Code 362

(1) One or more ballot cards, as defined in Section 302, upon which are printed the names of candidates for each contest and the ballot titles of measures to be voted on by marking the designated area and that are tabulated manually or by optical scanning equipment. The ballot card may include visual graphics and instructions.

(2) An electronic voting system, certified or conditionally approved by the Secretary of State, upon which the names of the candidates for each contest and the ballot titles of measures to be voted on are selected by touching the screen or using other physical controls. The electronic voting system shall print the selections made by the voter, which may be in the form of a list or facsimile of a marked preprinted ballot.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 676, Sec. 2. (AB 1219) Effective January 1, 2024.)