Page 35 - Special District Handbook with Cover-Final

EXHIBIT C

WORD COUNT GUIDELINES

Elec. Code § 9

The following guidelines are used by the Registrar of Voters for counting words on the Notice of Intention, ballot measure text, direct arguments, rebuttals, and other ballot enclosures. You should discuss with the special district elections official if these guidelines must be followed.

Each word shall be counted as one word except as specified on this page.

Punctuation is not counted. Symbols such as “&” (and), and “#” (number/pound) are not considered punctuation…………………………… each symbol is counted as one word

Dictionary words……………………………………………………………….…….. one word The words "a", "the", "and", and "an" are counted as individual words.

Geographical names limited to states, counties, and cities – California, County of Orange, San Juan Capistrano, City of Brea……………………………………... one word

Abbreviations - UCLA, U.C.L.A., PTA, P.T.A., USMC, U.S.M.C………………... one word

Regularly hyphenated words appearing in any generally available standard reference dictionary published in the United States within 10 calendar years preceding the election. Each part of all other hyphenated words shall be counted as a separate word……………………………………………………………………………….…… one word

Dates – all digits (4/8/98)………………………………………………………….... one word Words and digits (April 8, 1998)……………………………….…………….…... two words

Whole numbers - Digits (1 or 10 or 100, etc.)…………………………..…….…... one word Spelled out (one or ten or one hundred)………………. each word counts as one word

Names of persons and things……………………………. each word counts as one word Gus Enright (two words); L.A. Basketball Team (three words)

Numeric combinations (1973, 18 1/2, 1971-73, 5%)……………..………….…… one word

Monetary amounts (if the dollar sign is used with figures - $1,000)…………..... one word Spelled out (one thousand dollars)…………………………………….. one for each word

Telephone/fax numbers…………………………………………………………….. one word

E-mail and Internet web site addresses……………………………………. …… one word

30