§ 19:53C-15 — Counting provisional ballots; standards for validity

21. In counting the provisional ballots, the board shall deem void all provisional ballots which are wholly blank, or on which more names have been marked or designated for every office than there are persons to be elected to the office, and on which both "Yes" and "No" have been marked or designated upon every public question. No provisional ballot which shall have, either on its face or back, any mark, sign, erasure, designation or device whatsoever, other than that which is permitted by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.), by which the provisional ballot shall be distinguished from another provisional ballot shall be declared void unless the county board canvassing those provisional ballots or the judge of the Superior Court or other judge or officer conducting the recount thereof shall be satisfied that the placing of the mark, sign, erasure, designation or device upon the provisional ballot was not intended to identify or distinguish that ballot. No provisional ballot shall be declared invalid by reason of the fact that the mark made with ink or the mark made with lead pencil appears other than black. No provisional ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the name of that candidate may be misprinted, or the given name or the initials of the candidate may be omitted. No provisional ballot cast for any candidate shall be invalid by reason of the use of any label permitted by P.L.1999, c.232 (C.19:53C-1 et al.) on which the title of office may be printed or the name of the candidate may be misprinted or part of the given name or surname or the initials of the candidate may be omitted, or because the voter in writing the name of the candidate may misspell the name or omit part of the given name or surname or the initials of the candidate. No provisional ballot shall be declared "REJECTED" or invalid by reason of having a cross x, plus + or check appearing in a square provided for a blank space or a space wherein no name is printed. L.1999,c.232,s.21.