7-114 - Ballots; form for primary election.
§ 7-114. Ballots; form for primary election. 1. (a) The face of the official ballot for a primary election shall be divided into parts. Descriptive words to indicate the purpose of each part shall be printed at its head. Beginning at the left or top, the first part shall be entitled, and shall be for "Candidates for nomination for public office". The second part shall be entitled, and shall be for "Candidates for party positions." When necessary, a part may be divided into two or more columns or rows, but the names of all persons designated for the same office or party position shall be in the same column or row. (b) In each part shall be printed the titles of the offices or party positions, as the case may be, for which the part is to be used, and under each such title shall be printed the names of the designated candidates for the office or position. (c) Where a candidate for nomination for the same public office or for election to the same party position is designated by two or more petitions, his name shall be placed upon the ballot for the primary election but once as such a candidate. (d) The ballot shall not contain a space for voting for candidates for uncontested offices and positions, and no ballot shall be printed for a party whose primary is uncontested unless a petition for opportunity to ballot has been filed. 2. (a) The paper ballot for a primary election shall conform to the form for paper ballots set forth in this article with respect to quality and weight of paper, perforated line, and number on the stub on the back of the ballot. (b) On the back of the paper ballot, on the stub, immediately below the number, shall be the name of the party. On the back of the ballot and below the stub, and immediately to the left of the center of the ballot, and on the front of the ballot, below the perforated line, shall be printed, in addition to the other information required for paper ballots, the name and emblem of the party and the words "Official primary ballot." (c) On the front of the stub, above the perforated line at the top of the paper ballot shall be printed the same instructions as on the general election ballot. (d) The parts of the paper ballot below such heavy black horizontal line shall be separated by a heavy black vertical line or lines, one-fourth of an inch in width. Descriptive words to indicate the purpose of each part shall be printed at its head, below the heavy black horizontal line. Immediately below such captions shall be printed two light parallel horizontal lines approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart, extending across each part. (e) The names of candidates on paper ballots shall be numbered with arabic numerals printed in heavy faced type beginning with "one" for the first candidate named in the first part and continuing in numerical order to and including the last candidate named in the last part, except that where two or more candidates are to be elected to a party position, the names of candidates designated by each petition shall be grouped, and each group shall have but one number, which shall be printed opposite the approximate center of the group. (f) The number of a candidate shall be printed on the paper ballot between the voting space and the name of the candidate. Each group shall have a bracket embracing the names in the group. (g) Spaces containing names of candidates and for writing in names, and intervening spaces on the paper ballot, shall be separated by light horizontal lines. Names of candidates shall be printed in capital letters not less than one-eighth nor more than three-sixteenths of an inch in height.(h) The paper ballots of no two parties shall be the same color, and the state board of elections shall select the color for each new party, and not later than twelve weeks before a primary election, shall transmit to each board of elections a certificate stating the colors so selected. * 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in any county where the board of elections deems it necessary, due to reasons of ballot configuration and in order to efficiently administer the election, the ballot in a primary election: (a) shall provide a slot or device to permit voters to write-in the name of an undesignated person with respect to each contested nomination for public office; and (b) shall provide a slot or device to permit voters to write-in the name of an undesignated person with respect to only such election for party position for which a valid petition for an opportunity to ballot has been filed. * NB Repealed July 10, 2010