16-513. Instructions for voters and election officers; form; preparation and distribution

1. The board of supervisors shall prepare the following instructions for the guidance of voters and election officers at the election, according to which the election shall be conducted and which shall govern the voters and election officers:

   Instructions to Voters and Election Officers

   1. On entering the polls each voter shall give his name in full and his place of residence to the election officer in charge of the signature roster. The inspector or other election officer shall ascertain if the name of the voter appears on the precinct register, and, if so, the voter will be given a ballot on the stub of which shall be written the initials of the election officer delivering the ballot and the register number of the voter.

   2. The voter shall retire to a booth provided for voting and in such booth mark or punch his ballot. He will mark or punch his ballot opposite the name of each candidate whose name is printed on the ballot for whom he desires to vote.

   3. If the voter desires to vote for any person whose name is not printed on the ballot, he shall write the name of such person on the blank lines printed on the ballot, except that when a write-in ballot envelope is provided for such purpose he shall write the name and title of office of such person.

   4. If the voter by reason of infirmity, or for any reason, is physically unable to mark his ballot, he may obtain the assistance of two election officers of opposite political parties in marking or punching the ballot. When a voter, for any such reason, requests assistance in marking or punching his ballot, two election officers, not of the same political party, shall accompany him to the booth and there distinctly state to him the names of the several candidates for each office, and the political parties by which they were nominated, and shall ask the voter for which candidate he desires to vote, and shall mark or punch his ballot correctly. Neither of the election officers shall in any way attempt to influence the voter in his choice of candidates, nor in any manner suggest or recommend that he vote for any particular candidate, or for the candidate of any political party.

   5. If a voter accidentally spoils his ballot, he shall present the ballot concealing any marks thereon to the judge having charge of the ballots, who shall mark the ballot spoiled and deliver to the voter another ballot. This process may be repeated until the voter has received three ballots, but no more. All spoiled ballots shall be returned with official returns of the election.

   6. If the name of the voter does not appear on the precinct register, the voter shall be allowed to vote a ballot to be verified on presentation of identification verifying his identity that includes the voter's given name and surname and the complete residence address that is verified by the election board to be in the precinct.

   7. If a voter has moved to a new address within the county and has not corrected his voting record with the county recorder, the voter shall be permitted to vote a "new residence" ballot to be verified if the voter does both of the following:

      (a) Presents identification that includes the voter's given name and surname and a physical location of a residence address that is in the precinct where the voter is attempting to vote.

      (b) Affirms in writing that the voter's new residence is located in that precinct.

   8. When a voter is allowed to vote any ballot to be verified the election officer shall enter the voter's name on a separate signature roster page at the end of the signature roster and the voter shall sign in the space provided. Voters' names shall be numbered consecutively beginning with the number V-1. The voter shall be given a ballot on the stub of which shall be written the initials of the election officer delivering the ballot and the registration number of the voter, if available. After the voter has voted, the election officer shall place the ballot in a separate envelope, the outside of which shall contain the precinct name or number, the signature of the voter and the voter registration number of the voter, if available.

2. The board of supervisors shall furnish to the inspector in each election precinct at least two instruction cards, at the time and in the same manner as the printed ballots are furnished.

WARNING - The above text was curent June 2003, but may be outdated now.