Michigan Administrative Code › Department - State › Elections & Campaign Finance › Conduct of Election Recounts › PAPER BALLOTS › Section R. 168.924 - Determining how ballot recounted; rules

Current through Vol. 24-12, July 15, 2024
Rule 24. The following rules as set forth in S168.737 of
					 the Michigan Compiled Laws, as amended, together with applicable court
					 decisions, shall be followed in determining how a ballot shall be
					 recounted.
(a) If the elector makes a
				  cross (x) in the circle under the name of his party at the head of the ballot
				  and does nothing further, he has voted a straight ticket.
(b) Where only 1 candidate is to be elected
				  to an office, to vote for a candidate not on his party ticket, the elector
				  should make a cross (x) in the circle under the name of his party, and also
				  make a cross (x) in the square before the name of the candidate for whom he
				  desires to vote on the other ticket. In such case, it shall not be necessary to
				  cross off the name of the candidate on his party ticket. If the elector votes
				  for more than 1 candidate for the same office where only 1 candidate is to be
				  elected to said office, said ballot shall not be counted for either of such
				  candidates, but shall be as to them null and void.
(c) When 2 or more candidates are to be
				  elected to the same or like office, such as coroners, to vote for a candidate
				  or candidates not on his party ticket for such office, the elector should mark
				  a cross (x) in the circle under his party name, and mark a cross (x) in the
				  square before the name or names of the candidate or candidates for whom he
				  desires to vote on the other ticket or tickets, and also cross off an equal
				  number of names of the candidates for such office on his party ticket; but if
				  such elector shall not have crossed off the names of an equal number of
				  candidates for such office on his party ticket, he shall be deemed to have
				  crossed off the name of each candidate for such office which is printed on his
				  party ballot opposite the name of the candidate on some other party ticket in
				  front of which name he has made a cross (x);
(d) To vote for a candidate not on any
				  ticket, the elector should write or place the name of such candidate on his
				  ticket opposite the name of the office and make a cross (x) in the circle under
				  the party name;
(e) A ticket marked
				  with a cross (x) in a circle under a party name shall be deemed a vote for each
				  of the candidates named in such party column whose name is not crossed off,
				  except those candidates where a cross (x) is placed in the square before the
				  name of some opposing candidate on another ticket, or where there is written or
				  pasted on the party ticket a name which is not printed on any party
				  ticket;
(f) If the name of any
				  person who is not a candidate on any ticket is written or placed on the party
				  ticket opposite the name of the office and there is a cross (x) in the circle
				  under the party name, the name so written or placed shall be counted 1 vote for
				  such person, whether the original name on the party ticket is erased or not,
				  excepting cases where there is a cross (x) in the square before the name of
				  some opposite candidate on some other party ticket;
(g) If no cross (x) is placed in the circle
				  under the party name, a cross (x) in the square before the name of any
				  candidate shall be deemed a vote for such candidate except in cases where the
				  elector votes for more candidates for the same office than are to be elected;
				  and
(h) Such elector shall indicate
				  his preference on any constitutional amendment or other submitted question by
				  making a cross (x) in the square opposite the word "Yes" or in the square
				  opposite the word "No" opposite or below such question on the proper
				  ballots.