Section 20281 - DefinitionsAs used in this Chapter, the following words have the following meanings:
(a) A "blank ballot" is a ballot on which the voter has made no marks in any voting position target.(b) "Candidate" means a person who is seeking nomination or election to a specified office and who either has met the legal requirements to have their name printed on the ballot or is eligible to have their name written in on the ballot and counted as the voter's choice for the contest.(c) A "damaged ballot" is a ballot that has been torn, bent, or otherwise mutilated or rendered unreadable such that it cannot be processed by the ballot tabulating equipment designed for use with the ballot.(d) A "duplicated ballot" is a ballot which is a true copy of the originally cast ballot. It is created when damage, improper marking or some other action/defect prevents the original ballot from being read by a ballot tabulating machine and is used to properly process and count the votes originally cast by the voter. A duplicated ballot also is necessary for a ballot cast using a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot.(e) A "listed candidate" is a candidate whose name appears on the ballot at the time the voter received the ballot, as opposed to a write-in candidate.(f) A "measure" is a ballot proposition, which appears on a ballot and requires voter action in order to enact or reject a proposed law.(g) An "overvote" occurs when a voter marks more than the maximum number of voting position targets allowed in the contest.(h) "Personal information" shall have the meaning set forth in Elections Code section 14287.(i) An "undervote" occurs when a voter marks less than the maximum number of voting position targets allowed in a contest.(j) A "voting position target" refers to that area of the ballot adjacent to each candidate or measure, or that area of the ballot, specifically designated to record the voter's choice for that contest. The term applies to all types of voting position targets on ballots, regardless of what form they may take, including, but not limited to, rectangle, oval, circle, square, hole punch, cross punch, slotting and open arrow.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 20281
Note: Authority cited: Section 12172.5, Government Code. Reference: 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6); Sections 303.3, 14287 and 15210, Elections Code; and Section 12172.5, Government Code.
1. Renumbering of former section 20981 to new section 20281, including amendment of first paragraph and subsection (a), filed 6-27-2024; operative 6/27/2024 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2024, No. 26).