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Wording of the ballot question

 
Wording of the ballot question

On February 10, 2014, the Board approved the wording for the referendum question and submitted it to the county elections board for approval. Here is the wording approved by the SCASD board to appear on the ballot May 20:
 
Shall debt in the sum of eighty-five million dollars for the purpose of financing new construction and renovations for the State College Area High School be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors? 
 
Requirements for a Referendum:
 
Although the LGUDA (Local Government Unit Debt Act of 1996) defines the general form of the ballot question, it is up to a county elections board to determine the exact wording. All ballot measures must be less than 75 words in length. All questions must be followed by the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ with squares for making cross marks. 

Under the LGUDA the only ballot question allowed by law is: 
 
“Shall debt in the sum of (insert amount) dollars for the purpose of financing (insert brief description of project) be authorized to be incurred as debt approved by the electors?”

Any variation from the statutory form of the question can render the election invalid.