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GUIDE TO WRITING ARGUMENTS, REBUTTALS AND ANALYSES FOR LOCAL MEASURES Prepared by: Alpine County Clerk/Elections 99 Water Street, P.O. Box 158 Markleeville, CA 96150 [PHONE REDACTED] (Voice) [PHONE REDACTED] (FAX) Web Site: www.alpinecountyca.gov Updated July 2017 This guide was developed in an effort to provide answers to questions frequently asked the Alpine County Clerk’s Office concerning arguments, rebuttals and analyses for local measures. It is for general information only and does not have the force and effect of law, regulation or rule. In case of conflict, the law, regulation or rule will apply. Persons using this guide must bear full responsibility to make their own determinations as to all legal standards and duties. ---PAGE BREAK--- - 1 - OVERVIEW (All Sections cited are from the California Elections Code) Arguments for and against: Filers: The governing board (i.e. Board of Supervisors, School Board or Special District Board) or member of members of the legislative body authorized by the legislative body, or any individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure, or bona fide association of citizens, or any combination of these voters and associations may file a written argument for or against any county, school or district measure placed on the ballot by the governing body or county initiatives placed on the ballot through the petition process. (§9120, 9162, 9282, 9501) The persons filing a district initiative petition may file an argument in favor of the proposed ordinance. The district board may submit an argument against the ordinance. (§9315) The filer does not have to be a signer of the argument. Signers of arguments for or against a county, school, or special district measure do not have to meet the criteria listed above. The filer of the argument must meet the criteria above; however, anyone may sign the argument. Ballot arguments for county and special district measures must be accompanied by the name or names of the person or persons filing it, or if filed on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization and the name of at least one of its principal officers. No more than five signatures shall appear with any argument submitted for or against a county or special district measure. (§9164) Ballot arguments for school district measures must be accompanied by the printed name and signature or printed names and signatures of the person or persons submitting it or, if submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization and the printed name and signature of at least one of its principal officers. No more than five signatures shall appear with any argument submitted under this article. (§9501.5) If more than one argument for or against any county, district or school measure is submitted, the county elections official shall select one for printing in the Voter's Information Pamphlet pursuant to the following priority: 1. The Board of Supervisors or governing board, or member of members of the board authorized by the board; 2. The individual voter, or bona fide association of citizens, or combination of voters and associations, who are the bona fide sponsors or proponents of the measure; 3. Bona fide association of citizens; 4. Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure. (§9167, 9503) Arguments must not exceed 300 words. (§9162, 9315, 9501) ---PAGE BREAK--- - 2 - Rebuttals: The authors may prepare and submit rebuttal arguments, or may authorize in writing any other person or persons to prepare, submit, or sign the rebuttal argument. No more than five people may sign the rebuttal. An "Authorization for Another Person or Persons to Sign the Rebuttal" is contained in this packet and should be filed at the same time the rebuttal is filed. (§9167, 9285, 9317, 9504) Rebuttals must not exceed 250 words. (§9167, 9220, 9285, 9317, 9504) Impartial Analysis: County Counsel is required to prepare an impartial analysis of a county or school measure. (§9161, 9500) For special district initiatives, the county counsel or district attorney of the county with the largest number of registered voters shall prepare an impartial analysis. (§9313) The impartial analysis must not exceed 500 words. (§9160, 9313, 9314, 9500) If the district is a water district, the counsel for the water district, or if there is no counsel for the water district, the county counsel of the county with the largest number of registered voters shall prepare an impartial analysis. If there is a legal counsel for the water district, the analysis shall be subject to review and revision by the county counsel. (§9314) Fiscal Analysis: The County Auditor-Controller may be requested by the Board of Supervisors no later than 88 days prior to an election to prepare a fiscal analysis of a county measure. (§9160) The fiscal impact statement shall not exceed 500 words. (§9160) ---PAGE BREAK--- - 3 - Tax Rate Statement: Each bond measure proposed by a county, city, district or other political subdivision or by any agency, department, or board thereof, the security of which constitutes a lien on the property within the jurisdiction, shall mail a tax rate statement with the Sample Ballot. (§9400, 9401) The statement shall be filed with the elections official not later than the 88th day prior to the election. The law does not specify a word limit for such statements. Order of appearance in Voter’s Information Pamphlet: Arguments, rebuttals and analyses are printed in the Voter's Information Pamphlet and mailed to all registered voters in the jurisdiction eligible to vote for the particular measure. The arguments will appear in the following order: 1. Analysis 2. Fiscal Analysis or Tax Rate Statement 3. Argument For 4. Rebuttal to Argument For 5. Argument Against 6. Rebuttal to Argument Against Lettering of Measures Letters designating measures will be assigned by the elections official pursuant to Elections Code §13116. Letters will be assigned after the close of consolidations, which occurs 88 days before the election. Measures will be assigned in alphabetical order beginning with the letter following the last letter assigned in the previous election and continuing through Z, or as close to the end of the alphabet as possible to accommodate all measures filed for the current election. For example, if the previous election ended with measure V, and five measures are on the next ballot, the measures will be assigned A, B, C, D, E rather than W, X, Y, Z, A. For districts that overlap into other counties, the counties will mutually agree to use a letter designation for the measure that will not conflict or confuse the voter. The letter assigned to these measures may not be in alphabetical order. Measures will appear on the ballot in the following order pursuant to Elections Code §13109: County Board of Education, College, Unified Schools, High Schools, Elementary Schools, County, Cities, Districts. In order to allow for the most efficient use of space, the county elections official may vary the order of the measures. Signature Statement Each argument and rebuttal must be accompanied by the two-page Signature Statement included in this Guide. (Elections Code §9600) There is a distinction between a "filer" and a "signer or author." The filer of the argument or rebuttal must be either the governing board of the district, a bona fide association of citizens or an individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure. The "signers or authors" of the argument or rebuttal can be any person or any organization accompanied by a signature of a principal officer. Filers do not have to be signers. ---PAGE BREAK--- - 4 - DEADLINES - ELECTION Contact the County Clerk at [PHONE REDACTED] for filing deadlines for a particular measure. Arguments: Arguments are due by 5 p.m. on the deadline date chosen by the County Clerk. Once an argument for and against a measure is chosen, a copy will be provided to the Opposing authors for the purpose of writing a rebuttal. Arguments are available to the public after the 5 p.m. deadline. Tax Rate Statement: Tax Rate Statements must be supplied for each bond issue proposed by a county, city, district or other political subdivision. The statement shall be filed with the elections official not later than the 88th day prior to the election. Statements are available to the public after the 5 p.m. deadline Rebuttals: 10 days after the argument is due, rebuttals are due by 5 p.m. Rebuttals are available to the public after the 5 p.m. deadline. Analysis: County Counsel prepares an impartial analysis of each measure and it is filed on the same day as rebuttals are due. If requested by the Board of Supervisors, the County Auditor may also submit an analysis. Analyses are public after the 5 p.m. deadline. Place to File: Alpine County Clerk/Elections, 99 Water Street, P.O. Box 158, Markleeville, CA 96120, [PHONE REDACTED]. Filing by FAX: Signatures on arguments, rebuttals and analyses must appear on the same page as the text of the argument, rebuttal or analysis. Original signatures must be presented to the elections official within 48 hours of transmission or the item(s) will not be considered as filed (weekends and holidays excepted). FAXing must be started prior to 5 p.m. on deadline days to be accepted as filed. The FAX number is [PHONE REDACTED]. Confidentiality: Arguments, rebuttals and analyses shall remain confidential until 5 p.m. on the date they are due. Withdrawal/Changes: Arguments, rebuttals and analyses may be changed or withdrawn until and including the date fixed for final submission to the county clerk. (§9163, 9316, 9601) Public Inspection: For 10 calendar days immediately following the deadline for final submission of election documents, including ordinances, analyses, arguments and rebuttals, the county elections official shall make a copy of the materials available for public inspection. A writ of mandate or injunction may be sought to require amendments or deletions to any or all of the materials. (§9190, 9295, 9380, 9509) ---PAGE BREAK--- - 5 - HOW TO WRITE YOUR ARGUMENT, REBUTTAL OR ANALYSIS Be accurate. Documents will be printed as submitted. Spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors will not be corrected by County Clerk staff. An argument, rebuttal, analysis or tax rate statement must be written to address a single measure on the ballot. A document combining statements pertaining to more than one measure will not be accepted. All arguments and rebuttals must be accompanied by a Signature Statement. See attached. (§9600) No more than five signatures will appear with any argument. If more than five are submitted, the first five will be printed. (§9164, 9501) Arguments, rebuttals, analyses and tax rate statement, including the names and titles of the signers, must be typed to ensure quality and accuracy. Do not use profanity or other objectionable language. The heading is standardized. (See “Standardized Headings” in this Guide.) Subheadings and deviations from the standardized heading will not be accepted. Arguments, rebuttals, analyses and tax rate statements are printed in the Voter's Information Pamphlet in 9.5 point Arial or Arial Narrow font – no exceptions. Limited use of bolding, CAPITALIZING, underlining, italics, centering text, and bullets (small solid circle only) are permitted. SUBMITTING ARGUMENTS/ANALYSES ON COMPUTER DISK OR E-MAIL: To help us cut costs and to ensure arguments are printed exactly as filed, we encourage you to submit arguments/analyses on computer diskette, CD, or via e-mail to [EMAIL REDACTED] Microsoft Word Provide one hard copy of how you want the text to look in the Sample Ballot with original signatures. Input signatures as: First Last Title Unless, the person is signing no behalf of an association. Then, the Association name appears on the first line, followed by the Name and title. Example: Chamber of Commerce First Last, President ---PAGE BREAK--- - 6 - HOW TO COUNT WORDS (Pursuant to Elections Code Section 9) Each word is counted as one word except: PUNCTUATION: Punctuation is not counted. TITLES: Words used in the title of the document, such as "Argument in Favor of Measure A" are not counted. CITIES/COUNTIES: All geographical names shall be counted as one word. Areas that have political boundaries with an elected or appointed board are considered geographic areas by this office. For example, "County of Alpine" and "Alpine County Unified School District" shall each be counted as one word. ABBREVIATIONS: Each abbreviation for a word, phrase, or expression shall be counted as one word. HYPHENATIONS: Hyphenated words that appear in any generally available dictionary shall be considered as one word. Each part of all other hyphenated words shall be counted as a separate word. DATES: Dates consisting of a combination of words and digits shall be counted as two words. Dates consisting of only a combination of digits shall be counted as one word. January 1, 2000 shall be counted as two words, whereas 1/1/00 shall be counted as one word. NUMBERS: Any number consisting of a digit or digits shall be considered as one word. Any number that is spelled, shall be considered as a separate word. "100" shall be counted as one word, whereas "one hundred" shall be counted as two words. PHONE & INTERNET: Web site addresses and telephone numbers shall be counted as one word. PERCENT SIGNS NUMBER SIGNS ETC.: It is department policy to count numbers consisting of a digit or digits used with a dollar sign cent sign percentage sign or number sign as one word. ---PAGE BREAK--- - 7 - STANDARDIZED HEADINGS Headings will be centered, and printed using all caps in 9-point, bold Arial font. BALLOT QUESTION: (Voter’s Pamphlet) TITLE OF BALLOT QUESTION (IF PROVIDED). If there is no title, the 75-word ballot question will be printed in upper and lower case. Bullets, italics, underlining, and bolding beyond the title, are not permitted in the ballot question. ANALYSES: IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSEL MEASURE Z If the full text of a county or city measure is not printed in the Voter’s Information Pamphlet, pursuant to 9160 and 9280, following the text of the impartial analysis insert in 10-pt. bold and centered: The above statement is an impartial Analysis of Measure Z. If you desire a copy of the ordinance or measure, please visit our website at www.alpinecountyca.gov or call the Alpine County Clerk at [PHONE REDACTED] and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT BY COUNTY AUDITOR-CONTROLLER MEASURE Z TAX RATE STATEMENT FOR BOND MEASURE Z MEASURE: (Voter’s Pamphlet) ALPINE COUNTY MEASURE Z MEASURE TITLE (Full Text of Ordinance, Resolution, Charter Amendment) Text...... INITIATIVE: (Voter’s Pamphlet) ALPINE COUNTY INITIATIVE MEASURE Z INITIATIVE TITLE (Full Text of Proposed Initiative) ARGUMENTS: ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE Z ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE Z REBUTTALS: REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE Z REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE Z BALLOT: MEASURES SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS COUNTY Z 75-word ballot question... (§13247) Yes No If the measure is a school bond, the ballot would read: "Bonds Yes" and “Bonds No” (Education Code §15122) ---PAGE BREAK--- - 8 - SIGNATURE STATEMENT (Elections Code Section 9600) All arguments concerning measures filed pursuant to Division 9 of the Elections Code shall be accompanied by the following statement to be signed by each author of the argument. Names and titles listed will be printed in the Voter's Information Pamphlet in the order provided below and will appear as indicated below. “The undersigned author(s) of the: argument in favor of argument against rebuttal to the argument in favor of rebuttal to the argument against ballot measure (insert letter) at the (Type of election: primary, general, special) election for (jurisdiction - name of district) to be held on hereby state that such argument (Election date) is true and correct to the best of knowledge and belief.” (his/her/their) ARGUMENT/REBUTTAL FILED BY (check any of the following that apply) This information will be provided on the County Clerk/Elections Website: Board of Supervisors or Governing Board Contact Person's Printed Name: Contact Person's Signature: Title: Phone: FAX: E-Mail: Bona Fide Association of Citizens or Filers of Special District Initiative Name of Association: Principal Officer's Printed Name: Principal Officer's Signature: Title: Phone: FAX: E-Mail: Attach list of officers if document relates to a school district measure Individual voter who is eligible to vote on the measure Printed Name: Signature of Voter: Address Where You Live: Phone: FAX: E-Mail: ---PAGE BREAK--- - 9 - SIGNATURE STATEMENT - PAGE 2 CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING & RECORD LETTER OF MEASURE: Argument in Favor of Measure Argument Against Measure Rebuttal to Argument in Favor of Measure Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure The signatures of the following persons will be printed as submitted below following the argument or rebuttal. SIGNATURE PRINT NAME as it will appear in the Voter's Information Pamphlet PRINT TITLE AND NAME OF ASSOCIATION (IF APPLICABLE) as it will appear in the Voter's Information Pamphlet. Are you signing on behalf of an association? YES or NO* DATE *If the argument or rebuttal is being signed by a principal officer on behalf of an association that is supporting or opposing the measure, the name of the association will appear on the first line, followed by the principal officer's name and title on the second line as the example illustrates: Alpine County Citizens Group Jill Citizen, Chair ---PAGE BREAK--- - 10 - AUTHORIZATION FOR ANOTHER PERSON OR PERSONS TO SIGN REBUTTAL ARGUMENT I, authorize the following person(s) to sign (print name of FILER of the argument) the rebuttal to the argument in favor against Measure for the election. (Letter) (election date) (One or more people who signed the argument may be replaced with different people to sign the rebuttal) 1. to sign instead of (print name of rebuttal signer) (print name of argument signer) 2. sign instead of (print name of rebuttal signer) (print name of argument signer) 3. sign instead of (print name of rebuttal signer) (print name of argument signer) 4. sign instead of (print name of rebuttal signer) (print name of argument signer) 5. sign instead of (print name of rebuttal signer) (print name of argument signer) Signature of Filer: Date: Attach this form to the 2-page "Signature Statement" submitted with the rebuttal argument.