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HomeElections CodeDiv. 13Ch. 3Art. 1§ 13207 Ballot Layout Requirements

§ 13207 Ballot Layout Requirements

Elections Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 13207 Ballot Layout Requirements

This law tells how a ballot must be printed, what information goes in each column, how wide the columns can be, and how to separate partisan offices from nonpartisan and voter‑nominated offices.

Key Takeaways

  • •Ballots must list offices, candidate names, and any measures in side‑by‑side columns.
  • •Partisan offices are shown on the left side, separated by a solid black line from nonpartisan and voter‑nominated offices on the right.
  • •Each column is normally three inches wide, but officials can make them up to one inch wider; presidential columns can be up to four inches.

Example

A county holds a party primary where voters will choose a Democratic candidate for state senator (partisan), a school board member (nonpartisan), and a local measure about a new park (a measure).

The ballot will have parallel columns: the left side will show the partisan office (state senator) separated by a solid black line from the right side that shows the nonpartisan office (school board) and the measure. Each column will be about three inches wide (or up to four inches for presidential races) and will include the office name, candidate names, and space for write‑in names where allowed.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 13207 Ballot Layout Requirements

(a) There shall be printed on the ballot in parallel columns all of the following: (1) The respective offices. (2) The names of candidates with sufficient blank spaces to allow the voters to write in names not printed on the ballot, except that no spaces shall be printed for voter-nominated offices at a general election. (3) Whatever measures have been submitted to the voters. (b) In the case of a ballot which is intended for use in a party primary and which carries partisan offices, voter-nominated offices, and nonpartisan offices, a vertical solid black line shall divide the columns containing partisan offices, on the left, from the columns containing nonpartisan offices and voter-nominated offices, on the right. (c) The standard width of columns containing partisan offices, nonpartisan offices, and voter-nominated offices, shall be three inches except that an elections official may vary the width of these columns by up to one inch. The column containing presidential and vice presidential candidates may be as wide as four inches. (d) A measure that is to be submitted to the voters shall be printed in one or more parallel columns to the right of the columns containing the names of candidates and shall be of sufficient width to contain the title and summary of the measure. To the right of or below the title and summary shall be printed, on separate lines, the words “Yes” and “No.” (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 57, Sec. 5. (AB 2835) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

the ballotflexibilityelection

Related Statutes

  • § 13200 Ballot Printing Compliance
  • § 9202.5 Initiative Petition Filing Period
  • § 9213 Municipal Initiative Reporting Requirements
  • § 9215 Initiative Petition Requirements
  • § 9222 City Ordinance Voter Approval

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 13207.
View Official Source