(a) At least 90 days prior to the election provided for in Sections 12815 and 12815.1, notice of the election shall be published within the district. Any voter or group of voters may prepare and file with the county elections official of the county containing the largest number of voters within the district an argument for or against the proposition to be submitted. The argument shall not be greater than 300 words in length. If more than one argument for or more than one argument against the proposition is filed within the time permitted the county elections official shall select one of the arguments for printing. No more than three signatures shall appear with any argument. The county elections official of each county in the district shall mail, or cause to be mailed, to each registered voter in that county in the district one copy of the argument for and one copy of the argument against the proposition. The arguments shall be mailed with the sample ballot.
(b) Based on the time reasonably necessary to prepare and print the arguments and sample ballots for the particular election, the county elections official shall fix and determine a reasonable date prior to the election after which no arguments for or against the proposition may be submitted for printing and distribution to the voters as provided in this section. Notice of the date fixed shall be published by the county elections official pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code. Arguments may be changed up to and including the date fixed by the county elections official.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 221, Sec. 85. Effective January 1, 2003.)