Case Name: WARD v. CULVER
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1906-05-15
Citations: 144 Mich. 71
Docket Number: Calendar No. 21,660
Parties: WARD v. CULVER.
Judges: 
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 144
Pages: 71–72

Head Matter:
WARD v. CULVER.
Elections — Canvass—Recount—Report oe Committee — Adoption.
Where a committee of the common council of a city has recounted the ballots cast for a city office, as provided by sec’ tion 3725,1 Comp. Laws, and presented majority and minority reports, the council have no power to accept other than the majority report.
Mandamus by Walter T. Ward to compel Rush Culver, mayor, and the common council of the city of Marquette to issue to relator a certificate of election.
Submitted May 14, 1906.
(Calendar No. 21,660.)
Order to show cause denied May 15, 1906.
Charles F. Button (Cahill & Wood, of counsel), for relator.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Respondent, the common council of the city of Marquette, acting as a board of canvassers, in obedience to the order of this court, appointed a committee to recount the vote for the office of mayor of said city. This recount committee could not agree and made two reports. The board of canvassers adopted the majority report. Relator applies for a mandamus.
This application can be granted only upon the assumption that the board of canvassers had authority to adopt the minority report. It had no such authority. It was bound to adopt the majority report. That report is the one described in the following language in section 3725, 1 Comp. Laws, viz.:
" Said board of canvassers upon receiving the report of such committee shall accept the same as correct, anything in the previous declaration, certificate or returns to the contrary notwithstanding. "
In this connection, see our recent decision of Atwood, v. Mayor, etc., of Sault Ste. Marie, 141 Mich. 295.
The application for an order to show cause is denied.