If they’re successful, the attorney general can alter that language before voting information materials are finalized. UC San Diego political scientist Thad Kousser said California invites lawsuits over ballot titles and summaries by having a partisan elected official write ballot language. An appeals court later overturned the ruling on the grounds that state law gives the attorney general “considerable latitude” to draft initiative language, SF Gate reported . Some states charge nonpartisan officials or boards with drafting initiative language, while others allow proponents to write their own titles and summaries. Republicans have unsuccessfully tried to change how California ballot language is written.