Hand Counting Optical Scan Ballots: If it is necessary to hand count the ballots cast within a precinct, please following the instructions provided below to complete the count.  This work must be performed by the various boards of election inspectors immediately following the close of the polls.  Special instructions are provided below.   

Hand Counting Votes Cast on Optical Scan Ballots:

1) Prepare duplicate tally sheets for each precinct (or ballot style issued within a precinct) according to the following instructions.  NOTE: It is recommended that the tally sheets be prepared by the clerk's office prior to the close of the polls.

· List each partisan office heading followed by the name of each candidate seeking nomination to each partisan office in 

  the Republican primary (1^st column, front and back of ballot),

· List each partisan office heading followed by the name of each candidate seeking nomination to each partisan office in

  the Democratic primary (2^nd column, front and back of ballot),

· List each non-partisan office heading followed by the name of each candidate seeking nomination to each non-partisan

  office, if any (3^rd column, front and back of ballot),

· List the heading of each proposal, if any, followed by a "Yes" and "No" (3^rd column, front and back of ballot). 

· Under each office, indicate the maximum number of votes allowed.  Example: Vote for not more than 2 = (2).

2) After the last ballot has been cast and all absent voter ballots have been processed, remove the ballots from the three ballot bins (main bin, write-in bin and auxiliary bin).  At this point, it is important that the ballots removed from each bin be kept separate.

3) Working with the ballots which were removed from the auxiliary bin, duplicate any ballots that require duplication.  Place the original ballots into the envelope labeled "ORIGINAL BALLOTS FOR WHICH DUPLICATES WERE MADE" which will be secured in the ballot container.  Place the duplicates with the other ballots which were removed from the main bin.

4) Working with the ballots which were removed from the write-in bin and any duplicated ballots that contain valid write-in votes, tally all valid write-in votes in the Write-In Tally Section of the Poll Book.  When you have completed this process, place the ballots with the ballots which were removed from the main bin.

5) By sorting the ballots into stacks of 25, physically count the total number of ballots cast.  Compare the total number of ballots cast to the total number of voters according to the Poll Book.  Resolve and/or document any discrepancies before proceeding.

6) Sort the ballots into three piles:

        1) Republican primary ballots (ballots containing one or more votes for Republican Party candidates along with

         and one or more votes for candidates seeking non-partisan offices and proposals, if any)

        2) Democratic primary ballots (ballots containing one or more votes for Democratic Party candidates along with

        one or more votes for candidates seeking non-partisan offices and proposals, if any) and

        3) Other ballots (ballots which 1) do not contain a valid vote for a Republican Party candidate or Democratic Party

        candidate, 2) ballots containing crossover votes and 3) ballots containing votes in the non-partisan and proposal

        sections only) 

Visually inspect the ballots in each pile to verify your work.

Checklist:

• It is important that the following steps be completed by four election inspectors representing more than one political parties. 

• Make certain that the inspectors have a copy of the Michigan Validity Standards and understand how to identify a valid mark.

• Inspectors should be familiar with the laws regarding split ticket or crossover voting and overvoting.

• Remind inspectors that an invalid write-in vote cannot result in an overvote or a crossover vote; in effect, invalid write-in votes are ignored and have no impact on other votes cast on the same ballot.

 7) Starting with the Republican primary ballots, using a reader and a checker process, one inspector calls each vote cast while the checker visually verifies the votes on the ballot as the votes are being called.  Working at the same time but independently (seated at opposite ends of a table), both tally inspectors record the votes cast for each candidate using a hash mark (vertical line).  Every fifth vote is recorded using a horizontal line across the 4 preceding hash marks.  In addition, both tally inspectors must verbally call out "Check" with every fifth vote recorded.  This serves as verification that both tally inspectors have the same count as they proceed through the tally process.

8) Working with the Democratic primary ballots, repeat step 7.

9) Working with the Other ballots, repeat step 7.  Only the votes cast in the Non-partisan and Proposal Sections of the ballot, if any, are tallied.

10) Add up the total number of votes cast (hash marks) for each candidate and the "Yes" and "No" for each proposal, if any, and record the total in the far right hand column on each tally sheet.  Verify your count by recounting the hash marks.

11) Complete the Statements of Votes as usual.  (In this case, the tally sheets will replace or supplement the tabulator total tapes.  See: "Important Note" below.) 

·  Attach one tally sheet to the Statement of Votes prepared for the County Clerk. 

·  Attach the second tally sheet to the Statement of Votes prepared for the County Board of Canvassers. 

Important Note:  If it is not necessary to hand count all ballots cast within the precinct, the total number of votes cast for each candidate and "Yes" and "No" for each proposal, if any, based on the hand count must be noted on all copies of the tabulator generated totals tapes. 

Example: Bob Smith . . . . . . . . . 217 + 18 = 235 

In this case, the adjusted totals tapes and tally sheets together are attached to the Statements of Votes prepared for the County Clerk and County Board of Canvassers.