(a) The state election commission shall establish a uniform maximum and minimum width for all paper ballots. Paper ballots shall be of such length and width as the county election commission deems necessary to contain the offices, names of the candidates, and questions required to be printed, with a stub containing a number.

(b) On the front or back of paper ballots shall be conspicuously printed the words, “Official Ballot for (General) (____ Party Primary) Election,” followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot is prepared, the date of the election, and the names of the members of the county election commission holding the election. The size of the print may not be less than ten (10) point.

(c) All paper ballots for use in a polling place shall be fastened together in convenient numbers in books so that each ballot may be detached and removed separately. Each stub shall be attached to the ballot so that when the ballot is folded, the stub can be detached without injury to the ballot and without exposing its contents. Each stub shall be serially numbered by the printer and no two (2) ballots for use in a single precinct may have the same number. The commission shall keep a record of the numbers of the ballots supplied to each polling place.

(d)

(1) On paper ballots, the titles of the offices shall be printed vertically on the left side of the ballot. There shall be a sufficient number of columns to list all political party nominees, independents and uncontested races, each political party and the independents having a column of its own. Any candidate whose name is to be placed on the ballot by virtue of party nomination shall be listed in the political column of the candidate's party, opposite the title of the office the candidate seeks. The independent candidate's name shall also be placed opposite the title of the office such candidate seeks. One (1) column will be left blank for each race, for the purpose of write-in candidates.

(2) Whenever primary elections are being held to select nominees, the names of the candidates shall be listed in alphabetical order, according to the initials of their surname, beginning with the first initial, in the column of their respective political party.

(e) The county election commission of each county shall prepare a sample ballot of all candidates listed in § 2-13-202 and shall mail this sample ballot to the coordinator of elections for approval. No ballot shall be printed or funds expended therefor by any county until such approval has been granted.

(f) The coordinator of elections shall determine distinguishable colors to be used in the printing of the ballot envelopes for early voting and absentee voting. Both envelopes shall include a place for the voter's precinct and district number and a statement for the administrator of elections to sign stating that the voter's signature has been verified and appears to be valid. The absentee voting ballot envelope need not contain a certificate for an attesting official.