California Code of Regulations
Title 2 - Administration
Division 7 - Secretary of State
Chapter 4.5 - Uniform Vote Counting Standards
Section 20283 - Optical Scan Voting Systems
Universal Citation: 2 CA Code of Regs 20283
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) When optical scan technology is used to count the votes on a ballot, the provisions of this section shall apply.
(b) The following standards shall be used to determine whether there is a clear indication on the ballot that the voter has made a definite choice. The examples used in this section refer to the "voting position target" as defined in Section 20281. The same principles demonstrated in the examples below shall apply to all types of voting position targets on optical scan ballots, regardless of what form they may take (e.g., rectangle, oval, circle, square, open arrow).
(c) A voter's choice shall be considered a valid vote if the voter:
(1) Indicates their vote choice by consistently filling inside the entire voting position target.
(2) Indicates their vote choice by consistently filling in less than the entire voting position target for all vote choices on the ballot and the ballot is processed in a manner consistent with the use procedures provided and approved for the voting system used in the county.
(3) Indicates their vote choice by consistently placing a distinctive mark, such as (X) or ([TICK]) or ([LEFTWARDS ARROW]), inside the associated voting position target for a candidate choice or ballot measure.
(4) Indicates their vote choice by consistently placing a distinctive mark, such as (X) or ([TICK]) or ([LEFTWARDS ARROW]), in the corresponding space directly above, below or beside the associated voting position target for a candidate or ballot measure.
(5) Marks their vote choices by encircling the entire voting position target for a candidate or ballot measure, or the candidate's name or Yes/No option for a measure.
(6) Indicates a voting error correction by using correction tape, strikeover, white-out or generic written note of instruction and marks another vote choice for the same contest on the ballot.
(7) Writes in a qualified write-in candidate's name, or a reasonable facsimile of the spelling of the name, in the designated write-in spaces directly below the list of candidates for that office and marks the associated write-in voting target position.
(8) Writes in a listed candidate's name in the designated write-in space and marks the associated write-in voting target position. In such case, the vote shall be counted as a single vote for the listed candidate.
(9) Marks a voting target position for a listed candidate and also enters the listed candidate's name in the designated candidate write-in space. In such case, the vote shall be counted as a single vote for the listed candidate.
(10) Writes in a qualified write-in candidate's name, or a reasonable facsimile of the spelling of the name, on the secrecy sleeve envelope or stub and indicates the contest for which the vote is being cast, in the case of voting systems where write-in spaces appear separately from the list of candidates for an office and do not provide voting position targets.
(d) A voter's choice shall be considered an invalid vote if the voter:
(1) Uses random markings, indentations, punctures, impressions, squiggly lines, dimple or crimp marks, pinholes, or pinpricks on a ballot, and there is no distinctive and consistent voting pattern to clearly indicate the voter's choice(s).
(2) Indicates vote choice by filling in less than the entire voting position target, and the voter has not consistently marked the entire ballot in the same manner, making the voter's choice unclear.
(3) Inconsistently places a mark above, below, or beside the associated voting position target on a ballot, instead of inside the voting position target, and the voter's choice cannot be clearly determined.
(4) Writes in the name of a person who has not qualified as a write-in candidate.
(5) Writes in a listed candidate's name in the designated write-in space and fills in the associated voting position target for a different listed candidate in the same contest.
(6) Writes in a candidate name that is unrecognizable/undecipherable and it cannot be determined for whom the vote is intended to be cast.
(7) Writes in a qualified write-in candidate's name in the designated write-in space and does not fill in the associated voting position target for the write-in candidate. However, in the event of a manual tally pursuant to Title 2, Division 7, Chapter 4.6 of the California Code of Regulations, or a manual recount, pursuant to Elections Code section 15342.5 if the intent of the voter can be determined, the vote shall be counted regardless of whether the voter has filled in the associated voting position target for the write-in candidate.
(8) Uses pressure-sensitive stickers, rubber stamps, glued stamps, or any other device not provided for in the voting procedures for the approved voting system used by the county to indicate the name of the voter's choice for a write-in candidate.
(e) If the voter leaves the voting booth without casting the ballot, the precinct official shall cause the ballot to be cast without examining the ballot.
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6); Sections 15154 and 15342.5, Elections Code; and Section 12172.5, Government Code.
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