§ 19005 Emergency Ballot Marking Rules

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law lets election officials use pencils or ink and make copies of ballots when there’s a power outage or other emergency, so votes can still be counted.

Key Takeaways

•Emergency power loss allows use of pencil or ink to mark ballots.
•Duplicate ballot cards can be made and counted with machines or manually.
•Counting must follow the procedures in Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Division 15.

Example

A polling place loses power during voting and voters need to mark ballots.

Officials can let people mark ballots with pencil or ink, create duplicate ballot cards, and count those duplicates using the tabulating machines or by hand according to the rules.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 19005 Emergency Ballot Marking Rules

In the case of electrical failure or other emergency, the official conducting the election may direct that ballots may be marked by pencil or ink. In that event, the elections official may duplicate the voted ballot cards as provided in Section 15210 and count the duplicate ballots by automatic tabulating device, or may count the voted ballots pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 15270) of Chapter 3 of Division 15. (Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 810, Sec. 25. Effective January 1, 2004.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

electrical failure emergency ballots pencil or ink duplicate automatic tabulating device Article 5 Section 15270

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 19005.

§ 19005 Emergency Ballot Marking Rules

Elections Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 19005 Emergency Ballot Marking Rules

This law lets election officials use pencils or ink and make copies of ballots when there’s a power outage or other emergency, so votes can still be counted.

Key Takeaways

•Emergency power loss allows use of pencil or ink to mark ballots.
•Duplicate ballot cards can be made and counted with machines or manually.
•Counting must follow the procedures in Article 5 of Chapter 3 of Division 15.

Example

A polling place loses power during voting and voters need to mark ballots.

Officials can let people mark ballots with pencil or ink, create duplicate ballot cards, and count those duplicates using the tabulating machines or by hand according to the rules.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 19005 Emergency Ballot Marking Rules

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

electrical failure emergency ballots pencil or ink duplicate automatic tabulating device Article 5 Section 15270

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Elections Code. Section 19005.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References