Groesbeck v. Board of State Canvassers

232 N.W. 387, 251 Mich. 286, 1930 Mich. LEXIS 593

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: September 24, 1930
• Docket: Calendar 35,318
• Status: Published

Opinion

Fead, J.

On petition of plaintiff, Alexander J. Grroesbeck, defendant, board of State canvassers, is conducting a recount of tbe votes cast for candidates for the nomination for governor on tbe Republican ticket at tbe primary election beld September 9th, at which plaintiff, intervener Wilber M. Brucker, and Edward J. Jeffries were the candidates. Claiming that tbe recount is being conducted illegally in many particulars, plaintiff seeks a writ of mandamus to compel lawful procedure and count. Defendant and intervener have answered, denying illegality both in law and in fact. Tbe answers have been traversed.

Tbe petition and answers present no controlling questions calling for framing issues of fact. Objection is made to tbe petition as being prematurely filed and for other reasons. This court has jurisdiction (Bradley v. Board of State Canvassers, 154 Mich. 274), and, because tbe time for certification of tbe nominee for tbe election ballot is short, tbe right to a correct recount clear, and we think tbe defendant board has misconceived its duty in some respects, we are moved to disregard technicalities of practice and proceed to determination of tbe legal questions. A preliminary statement of some principles established in this State will obviate the necessity for repetition in discussing specific subjects.

The primary election was beld under Act No. 351, Pub. Acts 1925, as amended, a codification known as tbe Michigan election law. Tbe act is framed with tbe imperative “shall.” Tbe provisions are all mandatory in tbe sense that tbe election officials are bound to obey them. Their observance may be enforced by mandamus (Baker v. Board of Election Commissioners, 110 Mich. 635), and tbe act pro vides criminal penalties for their violation. Some provisions are made mandatory in absolute effect by the use of specific imperative language. Others, while employing no special emphatic words, are held mandatory because they are designed to preserve the purity of the election, the secrecy of the vote, or the official character and integrity of the ballots both during and after the election. Such mandatory provisions must be given full effect even though it results in disfranchisement of voters or prevention of recount. Attorney General v. May, 99 Mich. 538 (25 L. R. A. 325); Attorney General v. Glaser, 102 Mich. 396; Keith v. Wendt, 144 Mich. 49; People v. Rinehart, 161 Mich. 585; Ritze v. Board of Canvassers, 172 Mich. 423; Smith v. Board of Canvassers, 220 Mich. 318.

Other provisions, however, while expressed mandatorily, are held directory in some circumstances, in that their nonobservanee is not fatal to a count of ballots, notably when they involve the performance of duty by an election official, the neglect of which has no effect upon the election or will result in disfranchising voters without their fault. An elector has the right to rely upon a legally authenticated ballot, in statutory form, handed to him at the polls by an election official, as being an official ballot upon which he can cast a lawful vote for a candidate of his choice. He is not bound to trace the history of the ballot to ascertain that all the provisions of law have been fulfilled in its preparation. This court has said:

“It may be stated, as a general rule, that the provisions of law relating to the manner of conducting elections will not be held so far mandatory as that a departure therefrom will result in the disfranchisement of a district or a class of voters, or the defeat of a candidate himself free from fraud, except in cases where the legislative intent that, such departure shall have that effect is clearly and unequivocally expressed. This is a rule which has been applied in this State.” Lindstrom v. Board of Canvassers, 94 Mich. 467 (19 L. R. A. 171).

“If the fraud of the voters, the ballots should not be counted; if that of the inspector, they should.” People v. Bates, 11 Mich. 362 (83 Am. Dec. 745).

1 ‘ The voter finding the ticket upon the ballot cannot be required to determine its regularity at his peril. This might involve a necessary knowledge of facts difficult to ascertain. He may safely rely upon the action of the officers of the law, who he has a right to suppose have done their duty.” Bragdon v. Navarre, 102 Mich. 259.

“It would be a dangerous rule to establish that the board of election inspectors could thwart the will of the voters by a neglect to perform the duty imposed upon them by statute, and it should not be so held except where the plain provisions of the statute require it.” Attorney General v. Glaser, 102 Mich. 396.

See, also, People v. Board of Supervisors, 240 Mich. 115; Abbott v. Montcalm County Canvassers, 172 Mich. 416; Horning v. Board of Canvassers, 119 Mich. 51; 9 R. C. L. pp. 1061, 1091, 1092; 20 C. J. p. 152.

It must be assumed that the Michigan election law was codified with these principles in mind.

Defendant refused to recount the ballots in boxes where the number of ballots did not correspond with the number of voters as shown by the poll lists, but accepted the original returns of the canvasses by the election inspectors. It is charged, and not denied, that the original returns show count of all the ballots in such boxes, including the excess number over the poll lists. The statute makes the poll list the official and determinative evidence of the number of votes cast. Michigan election law (Act No. 351, Pub. Acts 1925, as amended by Act No. 306, Pub. Acts 1929), pt. 3, chap. 5, § 5; pt. 4, chap. 8, §§ 17, 28, chap. 12, §§ 1,. 2. It was the first duty of the inspectors of election, after the polls were closed and as part of the count of votes, to compare the poll lists, count the ballots, and, before beginning the actual canvass, to withdraw from the box the ballots in excess of the number of voters according to the poll lists, if any. Part 4, chap. 12, §§ 1, 2, supra. It is true the statute gives the recount board no authority, in express words, to make such withdrawal. Its powers are not detailed. They are summed up in the inclusive duty to “make a recount” and return. Part 4, chap. 19, §§ 5, 12. The function of the recount board is to correct fraud or mistake under statutory conditions. To do this, it makes a new count, such a count as the board of election inspectors should have made, “doing again what the inspectors of election have done.” Bradley v. Board of State Canvassers, supra. This carries authority to do what the inspectors should have done in the count. Otherwise a recount would be futile, a plain fraud or mistake would be perpetuated and an opportunity for future fraud pointed out. Defendant should make the proper withdrawal of excess ballots and proceed with the recount of the precincts so involved. It seems hardly necessary to state that this ruling would not apply to an instance where the excess was caused by the inspectors putting blank ballots into the boxes, or where the original canvass- corresponds with the poll lists.

Upon completion of the canvass it is the duty of the board of election inspectors to tie the counted ballots in packages or rolls, indorse upon each pack age “a statement showing the number and kind of ballots included in such package,” and deposit them in the ballot box. Part 4, chap. 12, § 5. Defendant refused to recount ballots not indorsed with the required statement. In this it was right. The statement is part of the statutory evidence of the integrity of the ballots and its absence is fatal to a recount. Smith v. Board of Canvassers, supra.

The election inspectors are also required to deposit in the ballot boxes a copy of the tally sheet. Defendant refused to recount the ballots in boxes containing no tally sheet. The tally sheet contains merely the computation of an inspector or clerk. The statute gives it no force of any sort, evidentiary or advisory. It has no effect on protecting or preserving the ballots. It may have some use in a quo warranto proceeding, but has none in a recount.

By Act No. 306, Pub. Acts 1929, section 16, chap. 18, part 4 was added to the election law. It provides that a recount shall be had of ballots in packages and rolls tied and sealed in the legal manner, if the number corresponds with the poll list, even though the seal on the box has been broken. The presence of a tally sheet is not made a condition of such re-canvass. The added statute modified former requirements of recount as set out in earlier acts and the decisions thereunder. It cannot be supposed that the legislature understood or intended that a tally sheet in the box is necessary to recount where the box is properly sealed in full compliance with law, and that it is not necessary where a safeguard of the integrity of ballots, the seal on the box, is wanting. The absence of a tally sheet does not justify refusal to recount.

Counsel agree that, to be counted, ballots must contain initials of the election inspectors. In tear ing off the perforated corners of ballots some initials seem to have been mutilated to a degree. It is, of course, not enough that a ballot bear evidence of having been initialed. Whether the marks are present in sufficient fullness to be actually existing as initials is the test, and the board must determine the fact from its view of the ballot. The petition for mandamus does not contain allegations which warrant a specific order in this respect, nor justify more than a declaration of the rule.

In one precinct a number of ballots bore letters and figures which, from a view of the ballot, defendant found and held were placed on them after they were voted, by way of computations by election inspectors, and were not made by the voters as distinguishing marks. In so holding, the board was within its power to pass upon the facts shown upon the face of the ballot. From the pleadings, we cannot .say the ruling was wrong.

In one township, above the spaces for delegates to the county convention, the words “vote for five” were written on a large number of ballots. They were the same words which should have been printed in that place on the ballots but were not. They were all in the same handwriting. From anything before us, the board was justified in holding that the words were written by election officials to supply the omission in printing and were not distinguishing marks.

Plaintiff claims that during the canvass defendant reversed a ruling on .the effect of distinguishing marks appearing otherwise than with relation to the office of governor, but refused to recount ballots already canvassed under the former and erroneous ruling. Defendant denies a change in the rule, but counsel conceded in the argument that some confu sion had existed in that respect at the beginning of the recount. A distinguishing mark anywhere on the ballot voids it in toto. Plaintiff was entitled to a count of all the ballots upon this rule, and if the board has failed to apply it in any precincts,- it should recount them.

Plaintiff alleges fraud in connection with absent voters’ ballots, but, as investigation of the claim would require the taking of extraneous testimony by defendant, it has no authority to make the inquiry or to correct the fraud, if any. Ritze v. Board of Canvassers, supra.

Part 3, chap. 4, § 12, of the election law provides:

“The names under the heading designating each official position, where there are more names than there are candidates to be nominated for such office, shall be alternated on the ballot of each party,” etc.

It further provides the mechanics of such alternation of names by the printer.

The ballots in Missaukee county were not so alternated; the names of the candidates for governor appearing on them in alphabetical order. Plaintiff contends the whole vote of the county should be rejected. The statute contains no special mandatory language stressing this requirement, nor does it declare the effect of nonobservance. Upon the principle stated above, that the neglect of an election official will not be permitted to disfranchise voters who are without fault, the contention is untenable. One-third of the ballots contained the names of the candidates for governor in the order they would have had on proper alternation. The ballots were furnished as official by the proper officers. On their face they disclosed no infirmity. The elector would not discover the defect from examination of any bal lot given him. The failure to alternate the names lessened the opportunity of no elector to cast a vote for the candidate of his choice. Nor did it increase his opportunity to vote illegally. The provision for alternation was evidently intended to afford the candidates equal chance to benefit from the indifference of careless voters who have no personal choice but who mark the first name. The legislature must have deemed position of real advantage, but whether or how much it is of benefit in a particular precinct cannot be known. Where, opposed to speculative benefits to a candidate resulting from observance of the statute are arrayed considerations that nonobservance did not and could not operate to deceive an elector, prevent or limit a free choice expressed upon an official ballot in a legal manner, or permit or induce a fraudulent vote, and also that, as a consequence of holding void an election for failure of an election official to do his duty, the disfranchisement of all electors would occur without their fault, one-third of whom cast incontestably legal votes, the rule in this State and elsewhere1 favors the voter and holds the defect not fatal. If it were otherwise, each voter, on peril of disfranchisement, would need to superintend the preparation of the ballot. Section 2, chap. 4, pt. 3 of the election law, cited by plaintiff, prohibits the use or counting of other than official ballots furnished by the election commissioners, but does not cover the preparation of such ballots. Reference to the adjacent section demonstrates that the legislature distinguished between preparation and furnishing.

Part 3, chap. 11, § 3, of the statute governs the use of voting machines at primary elections and provides :

“The names of candidates shall, where possible, be alternated as on primary election ballots.”

Plaintiff claims the nse of the machines was illegal and the votes should be rejected because of lack of alternation of the names. The ruling is the same as on alternation on ballots.

Chapter 19, pt. 4, of the act reads in part:

“Seo. 8. It shall not be necessary for all of the members of said board of State canvassers to conduct a particular recount, but each member thereof or any State officer or employee shall have the right to conduct any such recount when properly designated by the board, to the end that the recount may be conducted and the result of the election determined at the earliest possible moment.

“Seo. 9. The board of State canvassers or any member of the board of State canvassers while conducting a recount shall have authority to employ such clerks and assistants as shall be deemed necessary. ’ ’

Under these sections, defendant board has designated ten persons, whom it calls deputies, to assist in directing the recount. It has furnished them with printed instructions. It has established 100 counting tables, with clerks. The deputies have supervision of the tables. They .pass upon ballots challenged by contestants. Plaintiff claims they make independent decisions and have refused to submit appeals to the board. Defendant claims the deputies merely have applied the rules furnished them and have denied no appeal except where the application of the rule was plain and undoubted and the appeal was frivolous or for delay. Plaintiff did not allege any specific instances' of claimed illegal rulings by the deputies.

In enacting the law, the legislature must have had in mind a Statewide recount, the approximate number of votes to be canvassed, and the impossibility of the board of State canvassers conducting it and passing on all conflicts personally. The plain purpose was to authorize the board to employ such supervisory as well as clerical help as the exigencies require, and to invest its deputies with such powers as would best serve a speedy and accurate recount. It could have delegated the conduct of the canvass to others. But, as the board itself undertook the recount, its individual members and the deputies are subordinate to it, and reasonable appeal from them to it, as a board, is a right of contestants. However, a frivolous or vexatious appeal is not a right. The powers the board gave the deputies are within the statute. The proper execution of the powers and the remedy for their abuse rest largely with the board. This court can exercise supervision of them only upon presentation of allegation and proof of specific misconduct or illegality.

Plaintiff claims defendant has outlined and followed no method of procedure from which plaintiff can determine whether the results from precinct recounts are properly tabulated, asserts returns have been altered after the count has been made and he has been refused permission to make copies of the reports of clerks so that he may compute the votes. Defendant vigorously denies the allegations, except in the respect that, offering to permit the use of blanks of a different color, it has prevented plaintiff from using blanks identical with those used by the clerks. The recount in all respects must be public, at least as to the candidates or their representatives. They are entitled to full opportunity to observe each phase of the operation and to trace the count of a ballot from the box to its final resting place as part of the total. On the other hand, defendant may make such reasonable regulations as will insure the integrity of the count and conserve orderly procedure. Defendant not only denies that plaintiff’s access to any operation has been circumscribed, but offers full opportunity for complete inspection in the future. This being' the situation, no action by this court seems necessary thereon at this time.

Plaintiff makes' several other general allegations of‘improper conduct tolerated by defendant, which, the latter denies. The petition contains no recital of specific instances which may be reached through mandamus, except by way of a general order that no persons, other than defendant and its appointed and authorized deputies, be permitted to determine the validity of ballots or have direction of clerks and assistants.

A writ of mandamus may issue, if necessary, in accordance with this opinion.

Wiest, C. J., and Butzel, Clark, McDonald, Potter, Sharpe, and North, JJ., concurred.