(a) A candidate for a voter-nominated office shall indicate one of the following upon his or her declaration of candidacy, which shall be consistent with what appears on the candidate’s most recent affidavit of registration:

(1) “Party Preference: ______ (insert the name of the qualified political party as disclosed upon your affidavit of registration).”

(2) “Party Preference: None (if you have declined to disclose a preference for a qualified political party upon your affidavit of registration).”

(b) The selection made by a candidate pursuant to subdivision (a) shall appear on the primary and general election ballot in conjunction with his or her name, and shall not be changed between the primary and general election.

(c) Regardless of the party preference, or lack of party preference, of the candidate or the voter, any qualified voter may vote for any candidate for a voter-nominated office if the voter is otherwise entitled to vote for candidates for the office to be filled. Nothing in Section 2151, 3006, 3007.5, 3205, or 13102 shall be construed to limit the ability of a voter to cast a primary election ballot for any candidate for a voter-nominated office, regardless of the party preference, or lack of party preference, designated by the candidate for inclusion upon the ballot pursuant to this section, provided that the voter is otherwise qualified to cast a ballot for the office at issue.

(d) A candidate designating a party preference pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be deemed to be the official nominee of the party designated as preferred by the candidate. A candidate’s designation of party preference shall not be construed as an endorsement of that candidate by the party designated. The party preference designated by the candidate is shown for the information of the voters only and may in no way limit the options available to voters.

(e) All references to party preference or affiliation shall be omitted from all forms required to be filed by a voter-nominated candidate pursuant to this division in the same manner that such references are omitted from forms required to be filed by nonpartisan candidates pursuant to Section 8002, except that the declaration of candidacy required by Section 8040 shall include space for the candidate to list the party preference disclosed upon the candidate’s most recent affidavit of registration, in accordance with subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 3, Sec. 12. (AB 1413) Effective February 10, 2012.)