Mich. Admin. Code R. 168.784 - Processing write-in ballots
Rule 14.
(1)
Write-in ballots shall be processed by not less than 2 election inspectors of
differing political party preference.
(2) In processing write-in ballots, the
election inspectors shall first determine if a voter has recorded a write-in
vote on the designated place for write-in votes. A write-in vote placed in any
other space shall not be processed further, except that if there are more
write-in votes than designated spaces, the voter may place additional write-in
votes on the ballot envelope or on the combination ballot card and write-in
ballot.
(3) The election inspectors
shall next determine if the voter has recorded the following information for a
write-in vote:
(a) The name of an office to be
voted on at that election.
(b) The
name of a candidate for that office.
(c) If a partisan primary, the name of a
party appearing on the primary ballot.
(4) Write-in votes which do not state an
appropriate office, a candidate's name, or for which the name of a party in a
partisan primary is omitted shall not be processed further.
(5) The election inspectors shall next
determine if the write-in vote has caused an overvote. A straight party ticket
vote and a write-in vote for a partisan office is not an overvote. An
individual punch for an office and a write-in for that office shall be
considered an overvote, if the total exceeds the number of permitted choices
for that office.
(6) Where a
write-in vote is determined to meet the qualifications set forth in subrules
(2) and (3) and an overvote does not exist, the election inspectors shall enter
the candidate's name, the office, and if a partisan primary, the name of the
party on the write-in tally return. The ballot card shall be placed with the
other ballot cards for tabulation and the envelope containing the write-in vote
shall be placed with the other envelopes used in the election.
(7) When a write-in vote is determined to
meet the qualifications set forth in subrules (2) and (3) and an overvote
exists, the election inspectors shall duplicate the original ballot card,
omitting the punches for the office for which the write-in caused an overvote.
A duplicate ballot card shall be placed with the original ballot cards to be
tabulated. In place of duplication, correction tape may be used to cover up
holes for an office for which the write-in caused an overvote. If correction
tape is used, the original ballot card after being corrected shall be placed
with the other ballot cards to be tabulated. The envelopes containing the
write-in shall be placed with the other envelopes used in the election and a
write-in shall not be recorded for the office which was overvoted.
(8) In a partisan general election, if the
voter has voted a straight party ticket and has voted a write-in vote for a
partisan office, the election inspectors shall duplicate the ballot card by
omitting the straight party ticket punch and by punching a vote for every
candidate of that party except for the office where a write-in vote was made.
Correction tape shall not be used for this purpose. An alternate procedure may
be used to count write-in votes when a straight ticket has been voted if the
alternate system is presented to the secretary of state detailing the procedure
and the secretary of state approves the procedure. The procedure shall only be
approved for use in the units of government requesting use of the procedure.
The secretary of state may rescind approval if at a later date it is determined
that the procedure is not affording voters proper protection.
Notes
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