Section 9 Of Chapter 1. General Provisions From California Elections Code >> Division 0.5. >> Chapter 1.
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. (a) Counting of words, for purposes of this code, shall be as
follows:
(1) Punctuation is not counted.
(2) Each word shall be counted as one word except as specified in
this section.
(3) All proper nouns, including geographical names, shall be
considered as one word; for example, "City and County of San
Francisco" shall be counted as one word.
(4) Each abbreviation for a word, phrase, or expression shall be
counted as one word.
(5) Hyphenated words that appear in any generally available
standard reference dictionary, published in the United States at any
time within the 10 calendar years immediately preceding the election
for which the words are counted, shall be considered as one word.
Each part of all other hyphenated words shall be counted as a
separate word.
(6) Dates shall be counted as one word.
(7) Any number consisting of a digit or digits shall be considered
as one word. Any number which is spelled, such as "one," shall be
considered as a separate word or words. "One" shall be counted as one
word whereas "one hundred" shall be counted as two words. "100"
shall be counted as one word.
(8) Telephone numbers shall be counted as one word.
(9) Internet Web site addresses shall be counted as one word.
(b) This section shall not apply to counting words for ballot
designations under Section 13107.