(1) If the consolidated ballot format is used, the major political party identification check-off box must appear on the primary ballot before all offices and ballot measures. Clear and concise instructions to the voter must be prominently displayed immediately before the list of major political parties, and must include:

     (a) A statement that, for partisan offices, the voter may only vote for candidates of one political party;

     (b) A question asking the voter to indicate the major political party with which the voter chooses to affiliate;

     (c) A statement that, for a major political party candidate, only votes cast by voters who choose to affiliate with that same major political party will be tabulated and reported;

     (d) A statement that votes cast for a major political party candidate by a voter who chooses to affiliate with a different major political party will not be tabulated or reported;

     (e) A statement that votes cast for a major political party candidate by a voter who selects more than one major political party with which to affiliate will not be tabulated or reported; and

     (f) A statement that party affiliation will not affect votes cast for candidates for nonpartisan offices, or for or against ballot measures.

     (2) If the physically separate ballot format is used, clear and concise instructions to the voter must be prominently displayed, and must include:

     (a) A statement that, for partisan offices, the voter may only vote for candidates of one political party;

     (b) A statement explaining that only one ballot may be voted;

     (c) A statement explaining that if more than one party ballot is voted, none of the partisan races will be tabulated or reported; and

     (d) A statement explaining that the nonpartisan ballot only lists nonpartisan races and ballot measures and does not list partisan races.

[2007 c 38 § 3; 2004 c 271 § 127.]