Chapter 7.40
BALLOTS

Sections:

7.40.010 Ballot form.

7.40.020 Preparation and distribution.

7.40.030 Sample ballots.

7.40.040 Propositions – Clarity – Conciseness.

7.40.010 Ballot form.

A. Names of candidates for city offices shall be placed on the ballot in the form prescribed for state elections.

B. The title of the office to be filled shall be followed by the printed names of the candidates for such office, below which shall be blank lines equal in number to the candidates to be elected to such office, upon which the voter may write the names of persons not listed on the ballot. The words “Vote for no more than ____” with the appropriate number replacing the blank, shall be placed before the list of candidates for each office. The names of the candidates shall be printed as they appear upon the declaration filed with the clerk, except that any honorary or assumed title or prefix shall be omitted. However, the candidate’s name appearing on the ballot may include a nickname or familiar form of a proper name.

C. The propositions to be voted on shall follow the candidates for office or shall be on separate ballots, as the clerk may determine. The words “yes” and “no” shall appear below each proposition.

D. Each ballot shall bear the words “Official Ballot,” and the date of the election.

E. Ballots shall be printed on paper or on required stock to be computer counted.

F. The ballots shall be consecutively numbered. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.40.020 Preparation and distribution.

A. The clerk shall obtain the printing of all ballots for city elections. The clerk shall possess the printed ballots at least fifteen (15) days before each regular election and at least ten (10) days before each special election. At that time, the ballots may be inspected by any candidate whose name is on the ballot, or by his authorized agent, and any discovered mistake shall be corrected immediately.

B. The clerk may contract for the preparation and printing of the ballots without obtaining competitive bids.

C. The clerk shall arrange for delivery of ballots to each election board prior to or on the date of the election before the opening of the polls. The ballots shall be delivered in separate containers, with the number of ballots enclosed in each container clearly marked on the outside of it. A receipt for each package shall be taken from the election board to which it is delivered. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.40.030 Sample ballots.

The clerk shall obtain the printing of sample ballots. Sample ballots shall be printed on nonwhite and be clearly labeled “Sample ballot.” Sample ballots shall be delivered to the election board in each precinct. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]

7.40.040 Propositions – Clarity – Conciseness.

All ballot propositions shall be stated in a concise and clear language to avoid verbosity and with the object of informing and advising the voter of the issue in a clear and forthright manner. All ballot propositions shall be stated in the affirmative and not the negative so that a yes vote will always mean that the voter approves of the affirmative of a proposition and not the negative; and a no vote disapproves the affirmative statement of an issue. Ballot propositions shall not be used to obtain a negative result by the casting of a yes vote. Words of multisyllables will be avoided in ballot propositions, and simple sentences shall be used in preference to complex or compound sentences, with the object of making ballot propositions understandable to the average reader. [Ord. 98-16 § 4.]