Michigan Administrative Code
Department - State
Elections & Campaign Finance
Use of Optical Scan Tabulators by Absentee Voters
Section R. 168.775 - Preparation of voting device

(1) The clerk or an authorized assistant shall prepare each voting device pursuant to the provisions of the act and these rules.

(2) A voting device shall be identified with the precinct number in which it shall be used.

(3) A ballot label page used in the voting device shall be firmly attached for insertion and positioning in the ballot frame. A person shall not attach a ballot label by tape to a rod, or place a ballot label into a clear plastic envelope through which a rod is inserted.

(4) The ballot label assembly shall be inserted and sealed into each voting device so that the ballot label assembly cannot be removed without breaking the seal. Seals approved by the board of state canvassers shall be used for this purpose.

(5) The ballot label of each voting device of a precinct shall be compared against the edit listing and instruction ballot for the precinct to ascertain that the offices, candidates' names, and ballot position numbers are the same and appear in the same position.

(6) The ballot labels of each device shall be examined to ascertain that holes in the mask appear directly opposite each arrow, that other holes do not appear in the mask, and that the ballot labels are in proper sequence.

(7) An assembled voting device shall be tested to determine if it is operating properly.

(8) The identifying number of the voting device and the seal number used to seal the ballot label assembly to the device shall be recorded on the certificate in the poll book for the precinct in which the device is to be used. The clerk or an authorized assistant who sealed the device shall sign the certificate.

(9) When a voting device has been prepared for the election, the election commission, the clerk, or an authorized assistant shall execute a certificate in writing, which shall be filed with the election commission of the jurisdiction in which they are authorized to act. The certificate shall contain the precinct number, the identifying number of the device, and the number of the seal or seals used to seal the device, and state that the ballot labels have been compared against the edit list for that precinct and that the candidates' names and ballot numbers agree and appear in the same position and that the device has been properly prepared and tested. If the certificate is signed by other than the election commission, the election commission or its authorized assistant shall be offered an opportunity to inspect the voting devices to determine whether they are properly prepared. In an election when state and county officers or measures are to be voted for, a duplicate certificate shall be filed with the county clerk.