SB-0432, As Passed House, March 11, 2004
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 432
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending sections 73, 283, 393, 499, 509m, 509n, 509t, 509aa,
662, 735, 795, 798c, 799a, 803, and 842 (MCL 168.73, 168.283,
168.393, 168.499, 168.509m, 168.509n, 168.509t, 168.509aa,
168.662, 168.735, 168.795, 168.798c, 168.799a, 168.803, and
168.842), sections 73, 283, 393, and 662 as amended by 1999 PA
216, section 499 as amended by 1995 PA 213, sections 509m and
509aa as added by 1994 PA 441, section 509n as amended by 2003 PA
302, section 509t as amended by 1998 PA 21, section 795 as
amended by 2002 PA 91, section 798c as amended by 1990 PA 109,
and sections 799a and 803 as amended by 1997 PA 137, and by
adding sections 18, 523a, 813, and 829; and to repeal acts and
parts of acts.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 18. As used in this act:
2 (a) "Help America vote act of 2002" means the help America
3 vote act of 2002, 42 USC 15301 to 15545.
4 (b) "National voter registration act of 1993" means the
5 national voter registration act of 1993, 42 USC 1973gg to
6 1973gg-10.
7 (c) "Uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act"
8 means the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act, 42
9 USC 1973ff to 1973ff-6.
10 (d) "Voting accessibility for the elderly and handicapped
11 act" means the voting accessibility for the elderly and
12 handicapped act, 42 USC 1973ee to 1973ee-6.
13 (e) "Voting rights act of 1965" means the voting rights act
14 of 1965, 42 USC 1973 to 1973aa-6.
15 Sec. 73. Not more than 24 hours after the conclusion of the
16 fall state convention, the state central committee of each
17 political party shall canvass the proceedings of the convention
18 and determine the nominees of the convention for the offices of
19 lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
20 Not more than 1 business day after the conclusion of the
21 convention, the chairperson and secretary of the state central
22 committee shall forward
to the secretary of state and to the
23 board of election
commissioners of each county, in care of the
24 county clerk at the
county seat, a typewritten or
printed list
25 of the names and residence, including the street address if
26 known, of candidates nominated at the state convention. The
27 secretary of state shall forward a copy of a list received under
1 this section to the board of election commissioners of each
2 county, in care of the county clerk at the county seat.
3 Sec. 283. Not more than 24 hours after the conclusion of
4 the fall state convention, the state central committee of each
5 political party shall canvass the proceedings of the convention
6 and determine the nominees of the convention for membership on
7 the state board of education, the board of regents of the
8 university of Michigan, the board of trustees of Michigan state
9 university, and the board of governors of Wayne state
10 university. Not more than 1 business day after the conclusion of
11 the state convention, the chairperson and secretary of the state
12 central committee shall forward by registered or certified mail
13 to the secretary of state
and to the board of election
14 commissioners of each
county, in care of the county clerk at the
15 county seat, a copy of the vignette adopted by the state central
16 committee and a typewritten or printed list of the names and
17 residence, including the street address if known, of the
18 candidates nominated at the convention for the offices specified
19 in this section. The secretary of state shall forward a copy of
20 a list received under this section to the board of election
21 commissioners of each county, in care of the county clerk at the
22 county seat.
23 Sec. 393. Not more than 24 hours after the conclusion of
24 the fall state convention, the state central committee of each
25 political party shall convene and canvass the proceedings of the
26 convention and determine the nominee or nominees of the
27 convention for the office or offices of justice of the supreme
1 court. Not more than 1 business day after the conclusion of the
2 state convention, the chairperson and secretary of the state
3 central committee shall forward by registered or certified mail
4 to the secretary of state
and to the board of election
5 commissioners of each
county, in care of the county clerk at the
6 county seat, a typewritten or printed list of the names and
7 residence, including the street address if known, of the
8 candidate or candidates nominated at the convention for the
9 office or offices of justice of the supreme court. The secretary
10 of state shall forward a copy of a list received under this
11 section to the board of election commissioners of each county, in
12 care of the county clerk at the county seat. The names of the
13 persons so certified name of each nominee on the list shall be
14 printed upon a nonpartisan judicial ballot containing no party
15 designation together with
the names of any incumbent justices
16 filing an affidavit pursuant
to under section 392a.
17 Sec. 499. (1) An elector entitled to registration in an
18 election precinct may become registered in the precinct by
19 applying in person and signing the registration application
20 before the clerk or assistant clerk of the township, city, or
21 village in which the precinct is located. For the performance of
22 his or her duties under this act, each clerk and assistant clerk
23 has the power to administer oaths and to swear persons as to the
24 truth of statements contained in an application. For a better
25 examination of the applicant, a clerk may employ and swear an
26 interpreter to interpret all questions put to applicants and the
27 answers to those questions. If the applicant, in answer to a
1 question or in the registration application, makes a material
2 statement that is false, the applicant is guilty of a
3 misdemeanor.
4 (2) A clerk or assistant clerk shall not accept a fee from an
5 elector applying for registration, either for the registering of
6 the elector or for the taking of the acknowledgment on the
7 application. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of
8 a misdemeanor.
9 (3) The clerk, immediately after receiving the registration
10 or change of address of an elector, shall prepare a voter
11 identification card for the elector. The clerk shall also
12 prepare and send a corrected voter identification card to an
13 elector affected by a change in United States representative,
14 state senatorial, state representative, or county commissioner
15 district or precinct. Unless
otherwise required under the
16 provisions of this
subsection, a clerk is not required to prepare
17 and send a corrected
voter identification card to an elector who
18 made a declaration of
party preference or no party preference as
19 previously provided
under this act. The clerk shall
forward by
20 first-class mail the voter identification card to the elector at
21 the elector's registration address. The voter identification
22 card shall contain the name and address of the registrant and the
23 United States representative, state senatorial, state
24 representative, or county commissioner district and precinct in
25 which the registrant is
an elector. Except as provided in
26 section 500c, if the
original If the original voter
27 identification card is returned to the clerk by the post office
1 as nondeliverable, the clerk shall reject the registration and
2 send the individual a notice of rejection. If a duplicate voter
3 identification card is returned to the clerk by the post office,
4 the clerk shall accept this as information that the elector has
5 moved and the clerk shall proceed in conformity with section
6 509aa.
7 Sec. 509m. (1) The purposes of this section and sections
8 509n to 509gg are all of the following:
9 (a) To establish a statewide qualified voter file that
10 consists of all qualified electors who wish to be registered to
11 vote in local, state, and federal elections.
12 (b) To enhance the uniformity of the administration of
13 elections by creating and maintaining a statewide file of
14 qualified voters.
15 (c) To increase the efficiency and decrease the public cost
16 of maintaining voter registration files and implementing the
17 national voter registration act of 1993.
18 (d) To increase the integrity of the voting process by
19 creating a single qualified voter file that will permit the name
20 of each citizen of this state to appear only once and that is
21 compiled from other state files that require citizens to verify
22 their identity and residence.
23 (e) To apply technology and information gathered by principal
24 executive departments, state agencies, and county, city,
25 township, and village clerks in a manner that ensures that
26 accurate and current records of qualified voters are maintained.
27 (2) As used in sections 509n to 509gg:
1 (a) "Designated voter registration agency" means an office
2 designated under section 509u to perform voter registration
3 activities in this state.
4 (b)
"National voter registration act of 1993" means the
5 national voter
registration act of 1993, Public Law 103-31, 107
6 Stat. 77.
7 (b) (c) "Qualified
voter file" means the statewide
8 qualified voter file
established pursuant according to section
9 509o.
10 Sec. 509n. The secretary of state is responsible for the
11 coordination of the requirements imposed under this chapter,
12 and the national voter registration act of 1993, and
the help
13 America vote act of 2002. The secretary of state shall do all of
14 the following:
15 (a) Develop a mail registration form and make the form
16 available for distribution through governmental and private
17 entities, with special emphasis on making the form available to
18 voter registration programs established for the purpose of
19 registering citizens of this state to vote.
20 (b) Instruct designated voter registration agencies and
21 county, city, township, and village clerks about the voter
22 registration procedures and requirements imposed by law.
23 (c) By June 15 of each odd numbered year, submit to each
24 member of the committees of the senate and house of
25 representatives with primary responsibility for election matters
26 a report on the qualified voter file. The report shall include,
27 but need not be limited to, both of the following:
1 (i) Information on the efficiency and effectiveness of the
2 qualified voter file as a voter registration system.
3 (ii) Recommendations of the secretary of state for amendments
4 to this act to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the
5 qualified voter file as a voter registration system.
6 Sec. 509t. (1) Notwithstanding
any other another
7 provision of law to the contrary, a person who is a qualified
8 elector in this state and who registers to vote in a manner
9 consistent with the
national voter registration act of 1993 ,
10 is considered a registered voter under this act.
11 (2) A person who registers to vote in a jurisdiction in this
12 state by mail shall vote in person and shall provide
13 identification as required under section 303(b) of the help
14 America vote act of 2002, 42 USC 15483, if that person has not
15 previously voted in
person in that jurisdiction this state.
16 This subsection does not apply to any of the following registered
17 voters:
18 (a) A person entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the
19 uniformed and overseas
citizens absentee voting act. , Public
20 Law 99-410, 100 Stat.
924.
21 (b) A person who has a disability as defined in section 103
22 of the persons with disabilities civil rights act, 1976 PA 220,
23 MCL 37.1103, or, for purposes of voting in person only, a person
24 who is 60 years of age or older.
25 (c) A person who is entitled to vote other than in person
26 under any other federal law.
27 (3) This section does not preclude this state from
1 prosecuting a violation of this act that is also a violation of
2 any a federal election or voting rights law.
3 Sec. 509aa. (1) A clerk may use change of address
4 information supplied by the United States postal service or other
5 reliable information received by the clerk that identifies
6 registered voters whose addresses may have changed as provided in
7 this section.
8 (2) A clerk shall
update the registration of a voter upon
9 the receipt of
reliable information that the voter has changed
10 his or her residence
within the city or township. The clerk
11 shall send by
forwardable mail to the voter a notice of the
12 transfer informing the
voter that he or she is registered at the
13 new address. The
clerk shall include with the notice a postage
14 prepaid and
preaddressed return card on which the voter may
15 verify or correct the
address information.
16 (2) Upon receipt of reliable information that a registered
17 voter has moved his or her residence within the city or township,
18 the clerk shall send by forwardable mail all of the following to
19 the voter:
20 (a) A notice that the clerk has received information
21 indicating that the voter has moved his or her residence within
22 the city or township.
23 (b) A postage prepaid and preaddressed return card on which
24 the voter may verify or correct the address information.
25 (c) A notice explaining that, if the address information is
26 correct and the voter has moved his or her residence within the
27 city or township, the voter should complete and return the card
1 to the clerk with a postmark of 30 days or more before the date
2 of the next election. If the voter has moved his or her
3 residence within the city or township and does not complete and
4 return the card to the clerk with a postmark of 30 days or more
5 before the date of the next election, the voter will be required
6 to vote in his or her former precinct of residence in the city or
7 township. The voter will also be required to submit an address
8 correction before being permitted to vote.
9 (3) Upon the receipt of reliable information that a
10 registered voter has moved his or her residence to another city
11 or township, the clerk shall send by forwardable mail all of the
12 following to the voter:
13 (a) A notice that the clerk has received information
14 indicating that the voter has moved his or her residence to
15 another city or township.
16 (b) A postage prepaid and preaddressed return card on which
17 the voter may verify or correct the address information.
18 (c) A notice containing all of the following information:
19 (i) If the address information is incorrect and the voter has
20 not moved to another city or township and wishes to remain
21 registered to vote, the voter should complete and return the card
22 to the clerk with a postmark of 30 days or more before the date
23 of the next election. If the card is not completed and returned
24 with a postmark of 30 days or more before the date of the next
25 election, the voter may be required to affirm his or her current
26 address before being permitted to vote. Further, if the voter
27 does not vote in an election within the period beginning on the
1 date of the notice and ending on the first business day
2 immediately following the second November general election that
3 is held after the date on the notice, the registration of the
4 voter will be canceled and his or her name will be removed from
5 the registration record of that city or township.
6 (ii) If the voter has moved his or her residence to another
7 city or township, information on how the voter can become
8 registered to vote at the next election in his or her new city or
9 township.
10 (4) If a notice sent under this section is returned to the
11 clerk by the post office as undeliverable, the clerk shall
12 identify the registration record of a voter as challenged as
13 provided in this act. The clerk shall instruct the board of
14 election inspectors to challenge that voter at the first election
15 at which the voter appears to vote. If in response to the
16 challenge the voter indicates that he or she resides at the
17 registration address or has changed addresses within the city or
18 township, the voter shall be permitted to vote a regular ballot
19 rather than a challenged ballot. The voter shall complete a
20 change of address form at the polling place, if applicable. If
21 the person does not appear to vote in an election within the
22 period beginning on the date of the notice and ending on the
23 first business day immediately following the second November
24 general election that is held after the date of the notice, the
25 clerk shall cancel the registration of the voter and remove his
26 or her name from the registration record of the city or
27 township.
1 Sec. 523a. (1) If an individual who has applied to register
2 to vote on or before the close of registration appears at a
3 polling place on election day and completes an application under
4 section 523 is not listed on the voter registration list, the
5 election inspector shall issue a ballot to the individual as
6 follows:
7 (a) For an individual who presents a receipt issued by a
8 department of state office, a designated voter registration
9 agency, or the elector's county, city, or township clerk's office
10 verifying the acceptance of a voter registration application
11 before the close of registration and completes a new voter
12 registration application, the election inspector shall allow the
13 individual to vote a ballot in the same manner as an elector
14 whose name is listed on the voter registration list.
15 (b) For an individual who does not present a receipt
16 verifying the acceptance of a voter registration application
17 under subdivision (a), the election inspector shall determine
18 whether the individual is in the appropriate polling place based
19 on residence information provided by the individual. The
20 election inspector shall review any documents or maps in the
21 polling place or communicate with the city or township clerk to
22 verify the appropriate polling place for the individual. The
23 election inspector shall direct an individual who is not in the
24 appropriate polling place to the appropriate polling place. If
25 the individual refuses to go to the appropriate polling place,
26 the election inspector shall issue the individual a provisional
27 ballot that shall be processed according to subsection (5).
1 (2) Except for an individual who produces a receipt under
2 subsection (1)(a), the election inspector shall require an
3 individual who is not listed on the voter registration list to
4 execute a sworn statement affirming that the individual submitted
5 a voter registration application before the close of registration
6 and is eligible to vote in the election. An individual who
7 provides false information in a signed sworn statement under this
8 subsection is guilty of perjury. An individual signing a sworn
9 statement shall complete a new voter registration application.
10 The individual shall state the approximate date and in what
11 manner the registration application was submitted:
12 (a) To a department of state office.
13 (b) To a designated voter registration agency.
14 (c) To the office of his or her county, city, or township
15 clerk.
16 (d) By a mailed application.
17 (3) The election inspector shall contact the city or township
18 clerk to verify whether the individual who signed the sworn
19 statement is listed in the registration records of the
20 jurisdiction or whether there is any information contrary to the
21 content of the sworn statement.
22 (4) If the city or township clerk verifies the elector
23 information and finds no information contrary to the information
24 provided by the individual in the sworn statement and the
25 individual presents a Michigan operator's or chauffeur's license
26 or department of state issued personal identification card to
27 establish his or her identity and residence address, the
1 individual shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot on
2 election day. Before the provisional ballot is tabulated on
3 election day, election inspectors shall process the ballot as a
4 challenged ballot under sections 745 and 746.
5 (5) If the election inspector is not able to contact the city
6 or township clerk, the individual is not in the correct precinct,
7 the individual presents identification other than a Michigan
8 operator's or chauffeur's license or department of state issued
9 personal identification card, or the individual is unable to
10 present any identification, the individual shall be issued a
11 provisional ballot that is not tabulated on election day but is
12 secured for verification after the election. A provisional
13 ballot shall also be issued under this subsection to a voter who
14 presents a Michigan operator's license, chauffeur's license, or
15 department of state personal identification card that does not
16 bear the voter's current residence address, if the voter also
17 presents a document to establish the voter's current residence
18 address. The election inspector shall accept a document
19 containing the name and current residence address of the voter as
20 sufficient documentation to issue a provisional ballot if it is 1
21 of the following documents:
22 (a) A current utility bill.
23 (b) A current bank statement.
24 (c) A current paycheck, government check, or other government
25 document.
26 (6) A provisional ballot shall be placed in a provisional
27 ballot return envelope prescribed by the secretary of state and
1 delivered to the city or township clerk after the polls close in
2 a manner as prescribed by the secretary of state.
3 (7) For a provisional ballot voted under subsection (4), the
4 election inspector shall provide the voter with a notice that his
5 or her ballot has been tabulated. For a provisional ballot voted
6 under subsection (5), the election inspector shall provide the
7 voter with a notice that the voter's information will be verified
8 by the clerk of the jurisdiction within 6 days after the election
9 to determine whether the ballot will be tabulated and, if the
10 ballot is not tabulated, to determine the reason it was not
11 tabulated. A clerk of a jurisdiction shall provide a free access
12 system for the voter to determine whether the ballot was
13 tabulated. The free access system may include a telephone number
14 that does not require a toll charge, a toll-free telephone
15 number, an internet website, or a mailed notice.
16 (8) As used in this section and sections 813 and 829,
17 "provisional ballot" means a special ballot utilized for an
18 individual who is not listed on the voter registration list at
19 the polling place that is tabulated only after verification of
20 the individual's eligibility to vote.
21 Sec. 662. (1) The legislative body in each city, village,
22 and township shall designate and prescribe the place or places of
23 holding an election in
the for a city, village, or township
24 election, and shall provide a suitable polling place in or for
25 each precinct located in the city, village, or township for use
26 at each election. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
27 school buildings, fire stations, police stations, and other
1 publicly owned or controlled buildings shall be used as polling
2 places. If it is not possible or convenient to use a publicly
3 owned or controlled building as a polling place, the legislative
4 body of the city, township, or village may use as a polling place
5 a building owned or controlled by an organization that is exempt
6 from federal income tax pursuant
to as provided by section
7 501(c) other than 501(c)(4), (5), or (6) of the internal revenue
8 code of 1986, or any successor statute. The legislative body of
9 a city, township, or village shall not designate as a polling
10 place a building that is owned by a person who is a sponsor of a
11 political committee or independent committee. A city, township,
12 or village shall not use as a polling place a building that does
13 not meet the requirements of this section. As used in this
14 subsection, "sponsor of a political committee or independent
15 committee" means a person who is described as being a sponsor
16 under section 24(3) of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA
17 388, MCL 169.224, and includes a subsidiary of a corporation or a
18 local of a labor organization,
which if the corporation or
19 labor organization is considered a sponsor under section 24(3) of
20 the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.224.
21 (2) The legislative body in each city, village, and township
22 shall make arrangements for the rental or erection of suitable
23 buildings for use as polling places if publicly owned or
24 controlled buildings are
not available, and shall cause have
25 the polling places to
be equipped with the necessary facilities
26 for lighting and with adequate facilities for heat and
27 ventilation. The legislative body may establish a central
1 polling place or places for 6 precincts or less if it is possible
2 and convenient for the electors to vote at the central polling
3 place. The legislative body may abolish other polling places not
4 required as a result of the establishment of a central polling
5 place.
6 (3) The legislative body of a city, village, or township may
7 establish a polling place at a for profit or nonprofit residence
8 or facility in which 150 persons or more aged 62 or older reside
9 or at an apartment building or complex in which 150 persons or
10 more reside. A township board may provide polling places located
11 within the limits of a city that has been incorporated from
12 territory formerly a part of the township, and the electors of
13 the township may cast their ballots at those polling places. If
14 2 contiguous townships utilize a combined township hall or other
15 publicly owned or controlled building within 1 of the township's
16 boundaries and outside of the other township's boundaries, and
17 there is not another publicly owned or controlled building or a
18 building owned or controlled by an organization that is exempt
19 from federal income tax, as provided by section 501(c), other
20 than 501(c)(4), (5), or (6), of the internal revenue code of
21 1986, available or suitable for a polling place within the other
22 township, then each township board may provide a polling place in
23 that publicly owned building for 1 or more election precinct.
24 (4) The legislative body of a city, village, or township
25 shall not establish, move, or abolish a polling place less than
26 60 days before an election unless necessary because a polling
27 place has been damaged, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible or
Senate Bill No. 432 (H-5) as amended March 11, 2004
1 unusable as a polling place.
2 (5) The legislative body of a city, village, or township
3 shall ensure that a polling place established under this section [is accessible and]
4 complies with the voting accessibility for the elderly and
5 handicapped act Public
Law 98-435, 42 U.S.C. 1973ee to 1973ee-6
6 and the help America vote act of 2002.
[(6) As used in this section, “accessible” means the removal or modification of policies, practices, and procedures that deny an individual with a disability the opportunity to vote, including the removal of physical barriers as identified in section 261(b) of the help America vote act of 2002, 42 USC 15421, so as to ensure individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in elections in this state.]
7 Sec. 735. At
every primary and election, 1 poll book and 1
8 poll list shall be
kept by the inspectors of election. In each
9 such poll book and
list there shall be entered the names of all
10 electors who are given
official ballots, and at the time of
11 entering each such
name there shall be placed on the same line
12 and immediately
following said name the number of the ballot or
13 ballots given such
elector. The names of the electors shall be
14 entered in the poll
book and list in the order in which such
15 electors are given
ballots. The name of an absent voter and the
16 number of his ballot
shall be entered in the poll book and list
17 at the time his marked
ballot or ballots are taken by the
18 inspector from the
sealed envelope, as provided by law. The
19 numbers on all metal
seals used to seal all voting machines,
20 ballot boxes and
ballot bags at the completion of the precinct
21 canvass shall be
recorded on the certificate provided in the poll
22 book and this
certificate shall be signed by all members of the
23 board of inspectors.
24 (1) At each primary and election, election inspectors shall
25 keep 1 poll book and 1 poll list. An election inspector shall
26 enter in the poll book, in the order in which electors are given
27 ballots, the name of each elector who is given a ballot and
1 immediately after the name, on the same line, shall enter the
2 number of the ballot given to the elector. For an absent voter
3 ballot, when an election inspector removes the ballot from the
4 sealed absent voter envelope, the election inspector shall enter
5 in the poll book the name of the absent voter and the number of
6 the ballot.
7 (2) If an elector is issued a provisional ballot, an election
8 inspector shall enter a proper designation in the poll book,
9 including whether the provisional ballot was tabulated in the
10 precinct or was secured for verification after the election.
11 (3) At the completion of the precinct canvass, an election
12 inspector shall record on the certificate provided in the poll
13 book the number of each metal seal used to seal voting equipment
14 and ballot containers. Each member of the board of election
15 inspectors shall sign the certificate.
16 Sec. 795. (1) An electronic voting system acquired or used
17 under sections 794 to 799a shall meet all of the following
18 requirements:
19 (a) Provide for voting in secrecy, except in the case of
20 voters who receive assistance as provided by this act.
21 (b) Permit each elector to vote at an election for all
22 persons and offices for whom and for which the elector is
23 lawfully entitled to vote; to vote for as many persons for an
24 office as the elector is entitled to vote for; and to vote for or
25 against any question upon which the elector is entitled to vote.
26 Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the electronic
27 tabulating equipment shall reject all choices recorded on the
1 elector's ballot for an office or a question if the number of
2 choices exceeds the number that the elector is entitled to vote
3 for on that office or question. Electronic tabulating equipment
4 that can detect that the choices recorded on an elector's ballot
5 for an office or a question exceeds the number that the elector
6 is entitled to vote for on that office or question shall be
7 located at each polling
place and shall be programmed to reject
8 a ballot containing that type of an error. If a choice on a
9 ballot is rejected as provided in this subdivision, an elector
10 shall be given the opportunity to have that ballot considered a
11 spoiled ballot and to vote another ballot.
12 (c) Permit an elector, at a presidential election, by a
13 single selection to vote for the candidates of a party for
14 president, vice-president, and presidential electors.
15 (d) Permit an elector in a primary election to vote for the
16 candidates in the party primary of the elector's choice. Except
17 as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the electronic
18 tabulating equipment shall reject each ballot on which votes are
19 cast for candidates of more than 1 political party. Electronic
20 tabulating equipment that can detect that the elector has voted
21 for candidates of more than 1 political party shall be located at
22 each polling place and programmed to reject a ballot containing
23 that type of an error. If a choice on a ballot is rejected as
24 provided in this subdivision, an elector shall be given the
25 opportunity to have that ballot considered a spoiled ballot and
26 to vote another ballot.
27 (e) Prevent an elector from voting for the same person more
1 than once for the same office.
2 (f) Reject a ballot on which no valid vote is cast.
3 Electronic tabulating equipment shall be programmed to reject a
4 ballot on which no valid vote is cast.
5 (g) Be suitably designed for the purpose used; be durably
6 constructed; and be designed to provide for safety, accuracy, and
7 efficiency.
8 (h) Be designed to accommodate the needs of an elderly voter
9 or a person with 1 or more disabilities.
10 (i) Record correctly and count accurately each vote properly
11 cast.
12 (j) Provide an audit trail.
13 (k) Provide an acceptable method for an elector to vote for a
14 person whose name does not appear on the ballot.
15 (l) Allow for accumulation of vote totals from the precincts
16 in the jurisdiction. The accumulation software must meet
17 specifications prescribed by the secretary of state and must be
18 certified by the secretary of state as meeting these
19 specifications.
20 (m) Be compatible with or include at least 1 voting device
21 that is accessible for an individual with disabilities to vote in
22 a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and
23 participation, including secrecy and independence, as provided
24 for other voters. The voting device shall include nonvisual
25 accessibility for the blind and visually impaired.
26 (2) Electronic tabulating equipment that counts votes at the
27 precinct before the close of the polls shall provide a method for
1 rendering the equipment inoperable if vote totals are revealed
2 before the close of the polls. Electronic tabulating equipment
3 that tabulates ballots, including absentee ballots, at a central
4 location shall be programmed to reject a ballot if the choices
5 recorded on an elector's ballot for an office or a question
6 exceed the number that the elector is entitled to vote for on
7 that office or question, if no valid choices are recorded on an
8 elector's ballot, or if, in a primary election, votes are
9 recorded for candidates of more than 1 political party.
10 (3) Beginning January 1, 2006, each jurisdiction in this
11 state conducting an election shall equip each polling place with
12 at least 1 accessible voting device as required under subsection
13 (1)(m).
14 Sec. 798c. (1) Absentee votes may be cast on paper ballots
15 or ballot cards or both. Absent voter ballots may be counted in
16 the various voting precincts or may be counted by absent voter
17 counting boards. Absentee votes cast on paper ballots may be
18 recorded by election inspections
inspectors on ballot cards for
19 counting by tabulating equipment.
20 (2) In an election held under this act, absent voters'
21 ballots may be voted and processed in the manner provided by this
22 chapter.
23 (3) If electronic tabulating equipment rejects an absent
24 voter ballot due to programming required under section 795, the
25 rejected ballot shall be inspected to confirm the presence of the
26 error before the ballot is processed. A vote for each elective
27 office or ballot question in which an error is confirmed shall
1 not be counted.
2 Sec. 799a. (1) This section governs the recounting of a
3 ballot on which a voter has made a selection by means of a punch,
4 mark, or stamp.
5 (2) If the electronic voting system requires that the elector
6 cast a vote by punching out a hole in a ballot, the vote shall
7 not be considered valid unless the portion of the ballot
8 designated as a voting position is completely removed or is
9 hanging by 1 or 2 corners or the equivalent.
10 (3) If the electronic voting system requires that the elector
11 cast a vote by
marking or stamping place a mark
in a predefined
12 area on the ballot in order to cast a vote, the vote shall not be
13 considered valid unless
there is a mark or stamp within the
14 predefined area. and
it is clearly evident that the intent of
15 the voter was to cast
a vote. In determining intent of the
16 voter A stray mark made within a predefined area is not
a valid
17 vote. In determining whether a mark within a predefined area is
18 a stray mark, the board of canvassers or election official shall
19 compare the mark or
stamp subject to recount with other marks
20 or stamps appearing on the ballot. The secretary of state
21 shall issue instructions, subject to the approval by the board of
22 state canvassers, relevant to stray marks to ensure the fairness
23 and uniformity of determinations made under this subsection. A
24 secretary of state's instruction relevant to stray marks shall
25 not be applied to a ballot unless the secretary of state issued
26 the instruction not less than 63 days before the date of the
27 election.
1 (4) Unless a petition for recount has been filed and the
2 recount has not been completed, ballots, ballot labels, programs,
3 test results, and other sealed materials may be released from
4 their original seal after 7 days following the final
5 determination of the board of canvassers with respect to the
6 election at which the ballots were voted. However, the released
7 materials shall be secured and preserved for the time period
8 required by this act and the rules promulgated by the secretary
9 of state.
10 Sec. 803. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the
11 following rules shall
govern the counting and recounting of
12 votes:
13 (a) If it is clearly
evident from an examination of any a
14 ballot that the ballot has been mutilated for the purpose of
15 distinguishing it or that there has been placed on the ballot
16 some mark, printing, or writing for the purpose of distinguishing
17 it, then that ballot is void and shall not be counted.
18 (b) A cross, the intersection of which is within or on the
19 line of the proper circle or square, or a check mark, the angle
20 of which is within a circle or square, is valid. Crosses or
21 check marks otherwise located on the ballot are void.
22 (c) Marks other than crosses or check marks used to designate
23 the intention of the voter shall not be counted.
24 (d) A cross is valid even though 1 or both lines of the cross
25 are duplicated, if the lines intersect within or on the line of
26 the square or circle.
27 (e) Two lines meeting within or on the line of the square or
1 circle, although not crossing each other, are valid if it is
2 apparent that the voter intended to make a cross.
3 (f) A failure to properly mark a ballot as to 1 or more
4 candidates does not alone invalidate the entire ballot if the
5 ballot has been properly marked as to other candidates, unless
6 the improper marking is determined to be a distinguishing mark as
7 described in this subsection.
8 (g) Erasures and corrections on a ballot made by the elector
9 in a manner frequently used for this purpose shall not be
10 considered distinguishing marks or mutilations.
11 (h) Any ballot or part of a ballot from which it is
12 impossible to determine the elector's choice of candidate is void
13 as to the candidate or candidates affected by that
14 determination.
15 (i) Any votes cast for a deceased candidate are void and
16 shall not be counted, except that votes cast for a candidate for
17 governor who has died, and for whom a replacement has not been
18 made, shall be counted for the candidate for lieutenant governor
19 of that party.
20 (j) All ballots cast that are not counted shall be marked by
21 the inspector "not counted", kept separate from the others by
22 being tied or held in 1 package, and placed in the ballot box
23 with the counted ballots.
24 (k) A vote shall not be counted for any candidate unless a
25 cross or a check mark has been placed by the voter in the circle
26 at the head of the party ticket, if any, on which the name of the
27 candidate has been printed, written, or placed or unless a cross
1 or a check mark has been placed by the voter in the square before
2 the space in which the name of the candidate has been printed,
3 written, or placed.
4 (2) If an electronic voting system requires that the elector
5 place a mark in a predefined area on the ballot in order to cast
6 a vote, the vote shall not be considered valid unless there is a
7 mark within the
predefined area. and it is clearly evident that
8 the intent of the
voter was to cast a vote. In determining
9 intent of the voter A stray mark made within a predefined area
10 is not a valid vote. In determining whether a mark within a
11 predefined area is a stray mark, the board of canvassers or
12 election official shall compare the mark with other marks
13 appearing on the ballot. The secretary of state shall issue
14 instructions, subject to the approval by the board of state
15 canvassers, relevant to stray marks to ensure the fairness and
16 uniformity of determinations made under this subsection. A
17 secretary of state's instruction relevant to stray marks shall
18 not be applied to a ballot unless the secretary of state issued
19 the instruction not less than 63 days before the date of the
20 election.
21 Sec. 813. (1) Within 6 days after the election, for each
22 provisional ballot that was placed in a provisional ballot return
23 envelope, the city or township clerk shall determine whether the
24 individual voting the provisional ballot was eligible to vote a
25 ballot and whether to tabulate the provisional ballot. In making
26 this determination, the city or township clerk shall not open the
27 provisional ballot return envelope. A provisional ballot shall
1 only be tabulated if a valid voter registration record for the
2 elector is located or if the identity and residence of the
3 elector is established using a Michigan operator's license,
4 chauffeur's license, or personal identification card along with a
5 document to establish the voter's current residence address as
6 provided in section 523a(5). Before the provisional ballot is
7 tabulated, election officials shall process the ballot as a
8 challenged ballot under sections 745 and 746.
9 (2) Within 7 days after the election, but sooner if
10 practicable, the city or township clerk shall transmit the
11 results of provisional ballots tabulated after the election to
12 the board of county canvassers. The results shall be transmitted
13 in a form prescribed by the secretary of state.
14 (3) Within 7 days after the election, the city or township
15 clerk shall transmit to the county clerk a provisional ballot
16 report for each precinct in the jurisdiction. The report shall
17 include for each precinct the number of provisional ballots
18 issued, the number of provisional ballots tabulated on election
19 day, the number of provisional ballots forwarded to the clerk to
20 be determined after the election, the number of provisional
21 ballots tabulated by the clerk after election day, and any
22 additional information concerning provisional ballots as required
23 by the secretary of state.
24 Sec. 829. (1) The board of county canvassers shall include
25 the results of the tabulated provisional ballots in the canvass
26 of the election following procedures prescribed by the secretary
27 of state designed to maintain the secrecy of the ballot.
1 (2) Within 14 days after a primary or election, the county
2 clerk shall transmit a county provisional ballot report to the
3 secretary of state. The county provisional ballot report shall
4 be in a manner prescribed by the secretary of state. After the
5 secretary of state receives a county provisional ballot report,
6 the county provisional ballot report shall be immediately
7 available for public inspection.
8 Sec. 842. (1) The board of state canvassers, for the
9 purpose of canvassing the returns and ascertaining and
10 determining the result of
any such an election, shall meet at
11 the office of the secretary of state on or before the twentieth
12 day after such the
election. The secretary of state shall
13 appoint the day of such
the meeting and shall notify the other
14 members of the board.
thereof. The board shall have has power
15 to adjourn from time to time to await the receipt or correction
16 of returns, or for other necessary purposes, but shall complete
17 the canvass and announce
their determination thereof not later
18 than the fortieth day
after such the election. : Provided,
19 That the The board may at the time of its meeting, or
an
20 adjournment thereof of
its meeting, canvass the returns for any
21 office where for
which the complete returns for that office
22 have been received.
23 (2) If the unofficial election returns show that the election
24 of electors of president and vice president is determined by a
25 vote differential between the first place and second place
26 candidates for president and vice president of the United States
27 of less than 25,000 votes, the secretary of state may direct the
1 boards of county canvassers to canvass returns for electors of
2 president and vice president on an expedited schedule. The
3 secretary of state may direct the boards of county canvassers to
4 complete the statements for electors of president and vice
5 president required by section 824 and certify the statements as
6 required by section 828 to the secretary of state by the seventh
7 day after the election or by a date before the fourteenth day
8 after the election.
9 (3) The secretary of state may appoint the day for the board
10 of state canvassers to conduct the expedited canvass of the
11 returns for electors of president and vice president and
12 determine the results of that election. The day appointed for
13 the expedited canvass shall be as soon as practicable after
14 receipt of the returns from the boards of county canvassers, but
15 no later than the twentieth day after the election.
16 Enacting section 1. Sections 509, 509a, and 509y of the
17 Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.509, 168.509a, and
18 168.509y, are repealed.