The secretary of state shall prescribe the ballot format but ballots shall contain the information required by this section and be substantially in the form set out in this section. The official general ballot for national, state, county and township offices may be printed upon one ballot. All official general ballots shall be printed in black ink on paper through which the printing or writing cannot be read. Such ballots shall be printed on white paper or paper colored as authorized by rules and regulations adopted by the secretary of state.

On the back or outside of each official general ballot, so as to appear when folded, shall be printed the words “official general ballot,” followed by the words “national, state, county and township offices,” followed by the voting place for which the ballot is prepared and the date of the election. No person’s name shall appear on the back or outside of a ballot. All nominations made and certified as provided by law, and none other, shall be printed on the official general ballot. The names of candidates for every office to be voted for at the general election shall be arranged under the office to which each has been nominated.