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HomeElections CodeDiv. 14Ch. 2§ 14102 Ballot Supply Requirements

§ 14102 Ballot Supply Requirements

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

§ 14102 Ballot Supply Requirements

This law tells election officials how many ballots they must have ready in each voting place, making sure there are at least 75% of the registered voters' worth of ballots and using past turnout to guess the right amount.

Key Takeaways

  • •Election officials must have enough ballots for at least 75% of registered voters in each precinct.
  • •They use past voter turnout to decide the exact number, but never go below the 75% minimum.
  • •For primary elections, the number of party‑specific and non‑party ballots is based on how many voters are registered with each party or no party.
  • •Extra ballots must be ready for mail‑in voting and any emergency situations.
  • •If voting is done at voter centers instead of precincts, officials just need to have enough voting supplies.

Example

A town has 1,000 people registered to vote. The election office looks at past elections and sees about 600 people usually vote. The law says they must have at least 750 ballots (75% of 1,000) ready, plus extra for mail‑in or emergency voters.

Because the town must meet the 75% rule, they prepare 750 ballots even if past turnout was lower. If some people request mail‑in ballots, they add more so everyone can vote.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14102 Ballot Supply Requirements

(a) (1) For each statewide election, the elections official shall provide a sufficient number of official ballots in each precinct to reasonably meet the needs of the voters in that precinct on election day using the precinct’s voter turnout history as the criterion, but in no case shall this number be less than 75 percent of registered voters in the precinct, and for vote by mail and emergency purposes shall provide the additional number of ballots that may be necessary. (2) The number of party ballots to be furnished to any precinct for a primary election shall be computed from the number of voters registered in that precinct as intending to affiliate with a party, and the number of nonpartisan ballots to be furnished to any precinct shall be computed from the number of voters registered in that precinct without statement of intention to affiliate with any of the parties participating in the primary election. (b) For all other elections, the elections official shall provide a sufficient number of official ballots in each precinct to reasonably meet the needs of the voters in that precinct on election day, using the precinct’s voter turnout history as the criterion, but in no case shall this number be less than 75 percent of the number of registered voters in the precinct, and for vote by mail and emergency purposes shall provide the additional number of ballots that may be necessary. (c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), in elections conducted using voter centers, the elections official shall provide sufficient materials for voting. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 806, Sec. 44. (SB 286) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

electionemergencystatementintention

Related Statutes

  • § 9101 County Initiative Petition Requirements
  • § 9141 Immediate Effect Ordinances
  • § 9202.5 Initiative Petition Filing Period
  • § 10229 Municipal Election Candidate Shortage
  • § 107 Top Funders Disclosure Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 14102.
View Official Source