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AB-1512 • 2026

Elections: ballot language.

Elections: ballot language.

Education Elections
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Committee on Elections (A) - ()
Last action
2025-10-03
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 303, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify exact placement for 'Yes' and 'No' options, only that they should be on separate lines.

Elections: Ballot Language

This law changes how ballot questions are written for local government elections, requiring 'Yes' and 'No' to be printed on separate lines.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the format of ballot language requirements for various ballot measures relating to local governments.
  • Requires that 'Yes' and 'No' options appear on different lines of the ballot.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Voters in city, county, school district, and other special district elections.

Terms To Know

ballot language
The words used on a ballot to describe an election measure or proposal.
voting targets
Specific items that voters can choose 'Yes' or 'No' for, such as propositions or initiatives.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact placement of 'Yes' and 'No' options.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect voter understanding or participation.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-03 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 303, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-03 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

  4. 2025-08-26 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

  5. 2025-08-25 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2249.).

  6. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  7. 2025-07-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 15).

  8. 2025-05-21 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E. & C.A.

  9. 2025-05-08 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  10. 2025-05-08 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1488.)

  11. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

  12. 2025-05-01 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.

  13. 2025-04-30 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 30).

  14. 2025-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on ELECTIONS.

  15. 2025-03-11 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee April 10.

  16. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1512, Committee on Elections.
Elections: ballot language.
Existing law specifies the format of language printed on ballots for various ballot measures relating to local governments, including cities, counties, school districts, and other special districts.
This bill would revise these ballot language requirements. The bill would generally require the words “Yes” and “No” to be printed on separate lines of the ballot, with voting targets, to the right of or below the description of the proposal to be voted on.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF