Mich. Admin. Code R. 168.22 - Sufficient agreement of voter signature; initial presumption of validity; voter contact by clerk
Rule 2.
(1) In
determining for purposes of section
761(2) of the
Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL
168.761, or for the purposes of
766(2), 1954 PA 116, MCL
168.766, whether a voter's absent
voter ballot application signature or absent voter ballot envelope signature
agrees sufficiently with the voter's signature on file, an election official
may determine that a signature does not agree sufficiently with the signature
on file only after reviewing the absent voter ballot application signature or
absent voter ballot envelope signature using the process set forth in these
rules.
(2) A voter's signature
should be considered invalid only if it differs in significant and obvious
respects from the signature on file. Slight dissimilarities should be resolved
in favor of the voter. Exact matches are not required to determine that a
signature agrees sufficiently with the signature on file.
(3) If, after examining a voter's absent
voter ballot application signature or absent voter ballot envelope signature
using the process set forth in these rules, an election official has genuine
concerns about the signature's validity, the election official may contact the
voter to address those concerns prior to determining that a signature is not
valid. Any efforts by the election official to contact a voter under this
subsection is not notification for the purposes of
R 168.25 that the absent voter ballot
application signature or absent voter ballot envelope signature has been found
not to agree sufficiently with the signature on file. An election official who
is unable to determine that the absent voter ballot application signature or
absent voter ballot envelope signature agrees sufficiently with the signature
on file after contacting or attempting to contact the voter for clarification
under this subsection is still bound by the notification timelines set forth in
R 168.25.
Notes
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