(a) For each election district in which a general election is to be held, the Supervisor of Elections shall furnish to the board of elections thereof 50 official election ballots for every 45 registered electors and fraction thereof in each polling district within the election district. In addition, the Supervisor of Elections shall furnish to each such board sample ballots, printed on colored paper and without the facsimile endorsement of the Supervisor of Elections, equal in number to one-fifth of the number of official election ballots to be furnished by the board to the election officers for each polling district within the election district. The sample ballots shall be of the same size and form as the official election ballots.
(b) The Supervisor shall, upon timely request, furnish each candidate with up to twenty (20) sample ballots at least fifteen (15) days prior to the general election.