Cal. Code Regs. tit. 2 § 554.4

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 554.4 - Ballot Designations

(a) Each candidate for an elective Board member position may choose a Ballot Designation at the time he or she certifies acceptance of nomination as a candidate. The Ballot Designation will be printed below the candidate's name, on the ballots that are mailed to each eligible voter and will appear after the candidate's name on the online and telephone ballots. The Ballot Designation must be accurate and not misleading and conform to the following guidelines:

(1) If the candidate already holds the Board member position to which he or she is seeking election, then the candidate may use the single word "Incumbent" and this is the only time it may be used as a designation.

(2) The candidate may designate the principal profession or occupation in which he or she is engaged, at the time he or she certifies acceptance of nomination. This designation may be general or specific, but it shall not exceed three words in length. If the candidate is retired from the principal profession or occupation, it may still be designated if preceded by the word "Retired."

(3) The determination of whether or not a Ballot Designation conforms to these guidelines shall be made in the sole discretion of the Election Coordinator. The Election Coordinator may request the candidate to verify the truthfulness of the Ballot Designation. If a Ballot Designation does not conform, in whole or in part, it shall be reformed by the Election Coordinator with prior notice to the candidate, before it is printed on the ballots.

(b) The Election Coordinator will provide each candidate with written criteria for choosing a Ballot Designation in conformity with these guidelines, including examples of designations that were used in prior elections. The choice of Ballot Designation must be made by each candidate, and CalPERS accepts no responsibility for the content or validity of a given Ballot Designation.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 554.4

1. New section filed 7-2-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 27).
2. Amendment filed 8-9-94; operative 9-8-94 (Register 94, No. 32).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending first paragraph filed 6-12-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 24).
4. Amendment of first paragraph and NOTE filed 8-24-98; operative 9-23-98 (Register 98, No. 35).
5. Amendment filed 11-30-2000 as an emergency; operative 11-30-2000 (Register 2000, No. 48). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 3-30-2001 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
6. Change without regulatory effect correcting subsections (a) and (b) of 11-30-2000 emergency action filed 12-18-2000 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2000, No. 51).
7. Pursuant to the order of the Superior Court of California, Court of Sacramento, dated April 20, 2001, in California State Employees Association, Local 1000, SEIU, AFL-CIO, CLC v. Public Employees Retirement System, et al., No. 00CS01662, the emergency amendment filed 11-30-2000 has been invalidated and is unenforceable until adopted in full compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to 11-30-2000 emergency amendment (Register 2001, No. 22).
8. Amendments adopted by CalPERS Board 3-21-2001; submitted to OAL and filed 8-2-2001; operative 1-16-2002 (Register 2001, No. 31).
9. Amendment of subsections (a) and (c) filed 4-26-2012; operative 5-26-2012 (Register 2012, No. 17).
10. Renumbering of former section 554.4 to section 554.6 and renumbering and amendment of former section 554.10 to section 554.4 filed 11-10-2016; operative 1-1-2017 (Register 2016, No. 46).

Note: Authority cited: Section 20121, Government Code. Reference: Section 20096, Government Code.

1. New section filed 7-2-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 27).
2. Amendment filed 8-9-94; operative 9-8-94 (Register 94, No. 32).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending first paragraph filed 6-12-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 24).
4. Amendment of first paragraph and Note filed 8-24-98; operative 9-23-98 (Register 98, No. 35).
5. Amendment filed 11-30-2000 as an emergency; operative 11-30-2000 (Register 2000, No. 48). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 3-30-2001 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
6. Change without regulatory effect correcting subsections (a) and (b) of 11-30-2000 emergency action filed 12-18-2000 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2000, No. 51).
7. Pursuant to the order of the Superior Court of California, Court of Sacramento, dated April 20, 2001, in California State Employees Association, Local 1000, SEIU, AFL-CIO, CLC v. Public Employees Retirement System, et al., No. 00CS01662, the emergency amendment filed 11-30-2000 has been invalidated and is unenforceable until adopted in full compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act. Reinstatement of section as it existed prior to 11-30-2000 emergency amendment (Register 2001, No. 22).
8. Amendments adopted by CalPERS Board 3-21-2001; submitted to OAL and filed 8-2-2001; operative 1-16-2002 (Register 2001, No. 31).
9. Amendment of subsections (a) and (c) filed 4-26-2012; operative 5-26-2012 (Register 2012, No. 17).
10. Renumbering of former section 554.4 to section 554.6 and renumbering and amendment of former section 554.10 to section 554.4 filed 11-10-2016; operative 1/1/2017 (Register 2016, No. 46).