Jerry Rubin v. City of Santa Monica Maria M. Stewart, City Clerk Does 1-5, Inclusive, Bill Jones, Secretary of State

OPINION

SILVERMAN, Circuit Judge.

I. Overview

We are asked to decide whether the City of Santa Monica’s refusal to permit a candidate for the City Council to designate his occupation as “peace activist” on the city election ballot violates the candidate’s rights of free speech and equal protection. Because the ballot regulation prohibiting “status” designations is politically neutral and the City offers alternative channels of communication, we hold that the regulation does not severely burden a candidate’s First Amendment rights. The City’s interest in preserving the simplicity of its ballot is…