Section 168.474a - Assignment of number designation to appear on ballot for question submitted on statewide basis(1) The board of state canvassers shall assign a number designation to appear on the ballot for each question to be submitted on a statewide basis. The designation shall be assigned not less than 60 days before the election. If the question is to appear on a general election ballot the designation shall not be assigned earlier than the primary election preceding that general election.(2) The number designation under subsection (1) shall consist of 3 or 4 digits. The first 2 digits shall be the last 2 digits of the year of the election. The next digit or, if necessary, 2 digits shall indicate the chronological order in which the question was filed to appear on the ballot. For the purposes of this subsection, a question shall be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot as follows: (a) A general revision of the constitution under section 3 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 shall be considered to be the first question filed to appear on the ballot for those elections at which a general revision of the constitution will appear on the ballot.(b) An amendment to the constitution proposed under section 2 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963, legislation initiated under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963, or a referendum invoked under section 9 of article II of the state constitution of 1963 shall be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the petition is filed with the secretary of state.(c) An amendment to the constitution proposed under section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963 shall be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the joint resolution proposing the amendment is filed with the secretary of state.(d) A referendum under section 34 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963 shall be considered to be filed to appear on the ballot when the legislation is filed with the secretary of state.Add. 1978, Act 246, Imd. Eff. 6/20/1978 ;--Am. 1999, Act 219, Eff. 3/10/2000 .