Voter information guide: candidate statements.

Under existing law, a candidate for the United States House of Representatives or local elective office may purchase space in the county voter information guide to make a candidate statement. A candidate for United States Senate may purchase space for a candidate statement in the state voter information guide. A candidate for state elective office may also purchase space to make a candidate statement in the state voter information guide, but only if the candidate accepts certain voluntary campaign expenditure limits. Existing law prohibits these candidate statements from making any reference to the candidate's opponents. This bill would limit a candidate statement to a recitation of the candidate's own education, professional experience, public service, community involvement, and qualifications. The bill would prohibit a candidate statement from including, in addition to references to other candidates, attacks, accusations, or characterizations of other individuals or groups; a link or other reference to external content; content that is obscene or profane, or that incites hatred, violence, or discrimination; demonstrably false statements or materially misleading claims; or any other content that is unrelated to the candidate's qualifications. The bill would require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to omit from the voter information guide any portion of a candidate statement that does not comply with the bill, and it would require them to print the remainder of the statement if it can stand independently and does not mislead voters. The bill would make a fee paid by a candidate for the printing or inclusion of a candidate statement nonrefundable. The Secretary of State would be authorized to adopt regulations to implement the bill, and any registered voter could seek appropriate judicial relief to enforce its requirements. By increasing the duties of county elections officials, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The Califo