§ 7-5-601 — Paper ballots - Form

(a) All paper ballots provided by the county board of election commissioners of any county in this state for any election shall be alike and shall be printed in plain type. (b) Each ballot shall be printed on paper with a perforated portion capable of being detached for use as the ballot stub. (c) (1) As ballots are printed, the portion that shall be used as the ballot stub shall be numbered consecutively beginning with the number one (1). (2) The number on the last ballot printed shall show the total number of ballots provided for the election. (d) (1) The heading on the front or inner side of each ballot shall be: "OFFICIAL BALLOT. Vote by placing an appropriate mark opposite the person for whom you wish to vote." (2) If the ballot contains an initiated or referred amendment, act, or measure, the heading shall also contain these words: "Vote on amendments, acts, and measures by placing an appropriate mark below the amendment (or act or measure) either FOR or AGAINST." (e) Beneath the heading on each paper ballot there shall be printed instructions that inform the voter: (1) Of the effect of casting multiple votes for an office; and (2) How to correct the ballot before it is cast and counted, including without limitation instructions on how to correct an error through the issuance of a replacement ballot if the voter was otherwise unable to change the ballot or correct an error. (f) Each paper ballot shall be compatible with the electronic vote tabulation devices selected by the Secretary of State under § 7-5-301 . (g) (1) A county that chooses to use a hand count of paper ballots in place of approved voting machines shall be responsible for: (A) The cost of the hand-counted paper ballots and any devices or machines required for the printing of the hand-counted paper ballots under this subchapter; and (B) The labor costs associated with the performance of the hand count of paper ballots. (2) A county that chooses to hand-count paper ballots shall be eligible to receive the amount of reimbursement as if the county performed a machine tabulation of the votes. (h) The county board of election commissioners of any county that chooses to use hand count paper ballots instead of approved voting machines shall be responsible for compliance with § 7-5-311 and with the Equal Access to Voting Rights Act, Pub. L. No. 98-435, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II of Pub. L. No. 101-336, and the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-252, regarding the accessibility of voting locations for voters with disabilities. (i) Each paper ballot to be hand counted shall contain a watermark on the ballot with a unique placement of the watermark for each election cycle.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 743,§ 1, eff. 4/12/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 350,§ 1, eff. 3/21/2023. Acts 1977, No. 77, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 3-1801n; Acts 2005, No. 2233, § 34; 2009, No. 1480, § 35; 2011, No. 1020, § 2.