Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9005, we have reviewed the proposed constitutional and statutory initiative (A.G. File No. 15-0122) related to information included on ballots or sample ballots.

Background

Political Party Preference on the Ballot. Depending on the elective office in question, state law specifies whether or not the ballot indicates a candidate’s political party preference (or lack of political party preference). Candidates for nomination or election to congressional and state elective offices (with the exception of the Superintendent of Public Instruction) may have their political party preference indicated on the ballot. The party preference designation is selected solely by the candidate and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the candidate by the party.

Proposal

The measure would change state law so that candidates for state elective office may not have their political party preference indicated on the ballot or sample ballot. The measure does not affect information displayed on the ballot for candidates for federal elective office.

Fiscal Effect

The measure would not significantly change the amount of money that state and local governments spend to administer elections. By altering what information is disclosed on the ballot for state elective offices, this measure could change which individuals are elected to these offices. This could result in different decisions being made—for example, on legislation and the state budget—that otherwise would be the case. These decisions could have an effect on state and local spending and revenues. Any such indirect effects, however, are unknown and impossible to estimate.

Summary of Fiscal Effect. This measure would result in the following fiscal effect for state and local governments.

• No significant change in costs to state or local governments to administer elections.