The person in charge of elections for any county, city and county, city, or district shall provide ballots for any elections within his or her jurisdiction, and shall cause to be printed on them the name of every candidate whose name has been certified to or filed with the proper officer pursuant to law and who, therefore, is entitled to a place on the appropriate ballot.
Chapter 1Purchasing Procedures
Section § 13000
This law states that the person responsible for managing elections in a county, city, or district must provide ballots. They must also make sure that the name of every candidate, who has been properly certified or filed, appears on the ballot.
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Section § 13001
This law states that the cost of holding elections is usually covered by the county's funds. However, if a city government organizes an election, then the city's funds will be used to pay for it. Payments are processed just like any other payment made by the county or city. Additionally, the official in charge of the election doesn't have to go through the usual purchasing process for materials needed for the election.
All expenses authorized and necessarily incurred in the preparation for, and conduct of, elections as provided in this code shall be paid from the county treasuries, except that when an election is called by the governing body of a city the expenses shall be paid from the treasury of the city. All payments shall be made in the same manner as other county or city expenditures are made. The elections official, in providing the materials required by this division, need not utilize the services of the county or city purchasing agent.
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Section § 13002
In California, the paper or cards used for ballots in elections must be tinted and have a visible watermark or design. This design is provided by the Secretary of State to ensure it's easily seen and authenticates the ballots.
Ballot paper and ballot cards used by a jurisdiction holding an election pursuant to the laws of California shall be tinted and watermarked or overprinted with a design, to be furnished by the Secretary of State, so that the watermark or overprint is plainly discernible.
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Section § 13004
This law outlines the rules for ballot printing in California elections. The Secretary of State must create regulations for the production and quality of ballots. Printers cannot produce or offer ballot cards without being certified by the Secretary of State, who can set conditions for approval. Certified ballot manufacturers and finishers must undergo inspections every two years. If a ballot printer knows of any flaws in their processes or products, they must report these flaws to the Secretary of State and local election officials in certain timeframes. 'Ballot printer' includes any company or jurisdiction involved in creating or selling ballots for elections.
(a)CA Elections Code § 13004(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations governing the manufacture, finishing, quality standards, distribution, and inventory control of ballot cards and ballot on demand systems.
(b)CA Elections Code § 13004(b) A ballot printer shall not manufacture or finish ballot cards, or manufacture unfinished ballot cards, for use in California elections, or accept or solicit orders for ballot cards or unfinished ballot cards, before certification as a ballot printer by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may impose conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.
(c)CA Elections Code § 13004(c) For commercial ballot manufacturers and finishers, the Secretary
of State shall require a biennial inspection of the certified manufacturing, finishing, and storage facilities.
(d)CA Elections Code § 13004(d) Not later than five working days before the Secretary of State begins the initial inspection, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify or disclose to the Secretary of State in writing any known flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes. Once approved by the Secretary of State, the ballot card manufacturer or finisher shall notify the Secretary of State and the affected local elections officials in writing within 24 hours after it discovers any flaw or defect in its ballot card manufacturing or finishing process, or its manufactured or finished ballot cards, that could adversely affect
the future casting or tallying of votes.
(e)CA Elections Code § 13004(e) For purposes of this section, “ballot printer” means any company or jurisdiction that manufactures, finishes, or sells ballot cards, including test ballots, for use in an election conducted pursuant to this code.
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Section § 13004.5
In California, ballot on demand systems, which are used to print ballots as needed, must be certified by the Secretary of State before jurisdictions can purchase or lease them. Vendors can't sell or lease these systems without this certification either.
Jurisdictions can still research and develop these systems, but they can't be used in elections until they are certified. Once certified, if there's a flaw or defect discovered, the vendor must inform the Secretary of State and local election officials within 24 hours. The Secretary of State is also responsible for creating rules for the certification process.
(a)CA Elections Code § 13004.5(a) A jurisdiction shall not purchase, lease, or contract for a ballot on demand system unless the ballot on demand system has been certified by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may impose additional conditions of approval as deemed necessary by the Secretary of State.
(b)CA Elections Code § 13004.5(b) A vendor, company, or person shall not sell, lease, or contract with a jurisdiction for the use of a ballot on demand system unless the ballot on demand system has been certified by the Secretary of State.
(c)CA Elections Code § 13004.5(c) This section does not preclude a jurisdiction from conducting research and development of a ballot on demand system. A ballot on
demand system that is used for purposes of this subdivision shall not be used in an election conducted pursuant to this code unless the system has been certified by the Secretary of State.
(d)CA Elections Code § 13004.5(d) Once a ballot on demand system is approved by the Secretary of State, the ballot on demand system vendor shall notify the Secretary of State and the affected local elections officials in writing within 24 hours after it discovers any flaw or defect in its ballot on demand system that could adversely affect the future casting or tallying of votes.
(e)CA Elections Code § 13004.5(e) The Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations for purposes of certifying ballot on demand systems.
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Section § 13005
Before you can buy ballot cards, you must first ask the Secretary of State in writing for permission to get a certain number of them. If everything checks out, they'll give written approval for the manufacturer, warehouse, and you. There are rules about how these requests should be made.
You can also ask or give approval verbally, but you need to confirm it right away in writing. Manufacturing ballot cards without specific approval is not allowed.
(a)CA Elections Code § 13005(a) Before a user may purchase ballot cards, the user shall request in writing a release for a specific quantity of these ballot cards from the Secretary of State. If the request is in order, the Secretary of State shall issue a written release for that quantity to the manufacturer, or to the authorized warehouse, and to the user. The format, text, and use of the request and release shall be governed by regulations adopted by the Secretary of State.
(b)CA Elections Code § 13005(b) Nothing in this section prohibits a verbal request or verbal release, provided that this verbal request or verbal release is immediately confirmed in writing. The regulations shall expressly deny the manufacturing of ballot cards
without a specific release.
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Section § 13006
This law requires that any user, vendor, or manufacturer must get written permission from the Secretary of State before storing ballot paper or ballot cards intended for a specific election for use in a future election. The authorization will detail the amount stored for audit purposes. If the ballots are not reused or returned, they must be destroyed, and a certificate of destruction, including the date and quantity, must be sent to the Secretary of State.
A user, vendor, or manufacturer shall not warehouse for a subsequent election ballot paper or ballot cards furnished or released by the Secretary of State for a specific election without first obtaining authorization in writing from the Secretary of State for the storage. The authorization shall include the particular details of the amount to be stored so that audit controls may be established and maintained. Ballot paper or ballot cards not used in that election, not authorized to be retained for subsequent elections, and not returned to the Secretary of State, shall be destroyed. A certificate of destruction setting forth the date of destruction and the amount of the ballot paper or ballot cards destroyed shall be transmitted to the Secretary of
State.
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