R 168.786 Absentee ballots; issuance, processing, and tabulation.

Rule 16. (1) Absentee ballots may be sent to the proper precinct to be tabulated with the precinct ballots or to an absent voter counting board to be processed and tabulated as separate precincts. (2) If the voter is to vote by means of an absent voter ballot, the clerk shall prepare and issue an absent voter ballot packet consisting of the following: (a) Absent voter ballot. (b) Secrecy sleeve for the voter to insert the ballot into after voting. (c) Prepaid postage absent voter ballot return envelope as required in section 761 of the act, MCL 168.761. (d) Absent voting instructions prescribed by the secretary of state. (3) If the voter fails to return a secrecy sleeve, on receipt the inspectors shall place the ballot into a secrecy sleeve in a manner as to preserve the secrecy of the ballot. (4) If absent voter counting boards are used, certifications that are not relevant to the operation of an absent voter counting board may be omitted from the certificate of election inspectors in the physical pollbook. (5) An absent voter ballot may be returned at an early voting site or election day polling place as provided in section 768a of the act, MCL 168.768a. (6) Once an absent voter ballot is tabulated it cannot be spoiled.