MICHIGAN ELECTION LAW (EXCERPT)
Act 116 of 1954
CONDUCT OF PRIMARY ELECTIONS


168.574 Primary election; board of primary election inspectors, membership.

Sec. 574.

     Each primary election shall be presided over by a board of primary election inspectors, which board shall be composed of the members of the board of election inspectors as provided in section 674 of this act.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 ;-- Am. 1955, Act 271, Imd. Eff. June 30, 1955
Popular Name: Election Code





168.575 Primary elections; furnishing ballots to electors.

Sec. 575.

     After the polls are opened at a primary election, any elector who is legally registered and qualified shall, before entering the booth or voting compartment, be furnished a party ballot, together with any other ballot or ballots to be voted at that primary election.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955
Popular Name: Election Code





168.576 Marking ballot; voting for person not on ballot; effect of voting more than 1 party ticket; section subject to MCL 168.736a.

Sec. 576.

    (1) An elector, after having received a ballot or ballots, shall enter a booth or voting compartment and, while there concealed from view, shall vote the ballot or ballots by making a cross or a check mark in the square at the left of the names of those candidates for whom the elector desires to vote, but in no case for more candidates for any office than is indicated under the title of each office. However, an elector may vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot by inserting the name in a manner that will substitute it for any name that is printed on the ballot or where no candidate's name appears upon the ballot.
    (2) The elector shall indicate his or her choice of candidates on 1 party ticket only and, after marking the ballot, the elector shall fold it for deposit pursuant to the provisions of this act. A ballot on which more than 1 party ticket has been voted is void.
    (3) This section is subject to section 736a.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 160, Imd. Eff. Nov. 20, 1985 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 213, Imd. Eff. May 28, 1996
Popular Name: Election Code





168.576a Primary elections; electors, number of votes.

Sec. 576a.

     In all partisan and nonpartisan primary elections, the voter shall be entitled to vote for a number of candidates for each office equal to the number of persons to be elected for that office.


History: Add. 1969, Act 275, Imd. Eff. Aug. 11, 1969
Popular Name: Election Code





168.577 Primary elections; electors, folding and delivery of ballots.

Sec. 577.

     The elector shall then fold the ballot so that the perforated corner bearing the number and identification shall be on the outside, and shall present it to the proper member of the board of inspectors, who shall tear off the corner bearing the number and shall deposit the ballot in the ballot box.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955
Popular Name: Election Code





168.578 Primary elections; poll list, comparison of ballot number.

Sec. 578.

     When a duly registered and qualified elector shall ask for a ballot as before provided, the inspector shall enter his name upon the poll list, and the number of the ballot given to the elector. The inspector receiving the ballot after the same has been voted shall, before depositing it in the box, ascertain by comparison with such list whether the ballot given to him is the same ballot furnished to the elector, and if it is not the same ballot, he shall reject it and the elector shall not be allowed to vote at such primary election.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955
Popular Name: Election Code





168.579 Primary elections; electors; exposure of ballot; rejection; applicability of section under MCL 168.736a.

Sec. 579.

     If an elector, after marking his or her ballot, exposes it to any person in a manner likely to reveal the name of any candidate for whom the elector voted, the board of election inspectors shall reject the ballot and the elector shall forfeit the right to vote at the primary. A note of the occurrence shall be made upon the poll list opposite the name of the elector. This section does not apply to an elector who exposes his or her ballot to a minor child accompanying that elector in the booth or voting compartment under section 736a.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 213, Imd. Eff. May 28, 1996
Popular Name: Election Code





168.580 Counting ballots; candidates considered to have received votes; rejection of ballot.

Sec. 580.

     In counting the ballots after the closing of the polls, only those candidates having crosses or check marks marked in the squares to the left of their names shall be considered to have received votes, and any ballot upon which more votes have been recorded for candidates for any office than may, by law, be elected to that office shall be rejected as to all names appearing on the ballot for that office only.


History: 1954, Act 116, Eff. June 1, 1955 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 160, Imd. Eff. Nov. 20, 1985
Popular Name: Election Code



Rendered 8/15/2025 6:24 PM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov