Opinion ID: 1148370
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: law effect of failure to follow directions in marking ballot

Text: Wade first contends that only those ballots where the shaft of the arrow was properly filled in should be counted. Years ago voters were instructed to write the name of the person he intended to vote for on a slip of paper. Code 1857, Ch. IV, § 12. Later, this State thereafter changed to a printed ballot; statutes required the voter to place an X opposite the candidate of his choice and if any other type mark was made, this technical violation invalidated the ballot. Our earlier cases so held. Code of 1892, § 3664. Carver v. State ex rel. Ruhr, 177 Miss. 54, 170 So. 643 (1936); Kelly v. State ex rel. Kierskey, 79 Miss. 168, 30 So. 49 (1901). Thereafter, the Legislature authorized more than just a simple X for the voter to indicate his choice. Miss.Code Ann § 23-5-151 (1972). This Court then held in determining whether a ballot should be discarded, that if a voter's intention could be reasonably determined, it would be counted. Only where it was impossible to determine the voter's intent was the ballot to be discarded. See: Anders v. Longmire, 226 Miss. 215, 83 So.2d 828 (1955); Starnes v. Middleton, 226 Miss. 81, 83 So.2d 752 (1955); Tonnar v. Wade, 153 Miss. 722, 121 So. 156 (1929). This is the present rule as to non-machine ballots. It is a criminal offense, however, for a voter to place a distinguishing mark on his ballot to indicate his identity and this Court has consistently invalidated any ballot with identifying marks regardless of whether the other marking was correct. Code of 1892, § 3668 and Miss. Code Ann § 23-15-555 (Supp. 1987). Prather v. Ducker, 225 Miss. 227, 82 So.2d 897 (1955); Guice v. McGehee, 155 Miss. 858, 124 So. 643 (1929). The obligation of a Court is to give effect to every ballot from which the intent of the voter can be ascertained. Accord: Montgomery v. Henry, 144 Ala. 629, 39 So. 507 (1905). [A] number of courts have declared that if the intention of the voter can fairly be ascertained from his ballot and it appears that he acted honestly, the voter will not be disfranchised or deprived of this right to vote through mere inadvertence, mistake or ignorance even though the marking is not in strict conformity with the law. 26 Am.Jur.2nd Elections, § 257. As to how OMR ballots are to be marked, there is little statutory direction. The applicable statutes referring to OMR are Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-501 et seq. (Supp. 1987). These statutes make no specific requirement as to how the ballots should be marked by the voter. The statutes do, however, provide guidance for the election holders. The statutes require that each ballot contain a set of instructions that will be so displayed that a voter may readily learn the method of voting. Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-507 (Supp. 1987). The statutes further require that Each voter shall receive written and/or verbal instructions by the voting precinct election official instructing the voter how to properly vote the paper ballot before they enter the voting booth. Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-517 (Supp. 1987). While it would be wise for voters to follow election holder's directions, the fact that the directions are not followed should not void the ballot if the voter's intent can be ascertained. These damaged ballots which have been rejected by the OMR tabulating equipment are to be examined to determine the voter's intent. Miss. Code Ann. § 23-15-523 (Supp. 1987). We, therefore, come to determine whether the intent can be ascertained.