Section 19264.

(a) Prior to giving his or her decision approving or withholding approval of any ballot marking system, the Secretary of State shall hold a public hearing to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views for or against the system.

(b) The Secretary of State shall give notice of the hearing in the manner prescribed in Section 6064 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation published in Sacramento County. The Secretary of State shall also transmit written notice of the hearing, at least 30 days prior to the hearing, to each county elections official, to any person that the Secretary of State believes will be interested in the hearing, and to any person who requests, in writing, notice of the hearing.

(c) The decision of the Secretary of State, either approving or withholding approval of a ballot marking system, shall be in writing and shall state the findings of the Secretary of State. The decision shall be open to public inspection.

(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 694, Sec. 5. Effective September 28, 2012.)