§ 2587 - Rules for counting ballots - Vermont Statutes

§ 2587. Rules for counting ballots

(a) In counting ballots, election officials shall attempt to ascertain the intent of the voter, as expressed by markings on the ballot which is consistent with guidance adopted by the secretary of state. The secretary shall adopt, by rule, guidance on determining whether a ballot is spoiled. If it is impossible to determine the intent of the voter for any office or public question, the ballot shall be counted as blank or spoiled, as the case may be, for that office or question; but that determination shall not control any other office or question on the ballot for which the voter's intent can be determined. If they have any doubt about the intent of the voter or any other question about a ballot, the election officials counting the ballot shall bring it to the presiding officer, who shall present the question of how to treat the ballot to the assembled election officials. The decision of how to treat the ballot shall be made by majority vote of the election officials who are present.

(b) If the voter marks more names than there are persons to be elected to an office, or marks contradictory sides on any public question, his ballot shall not be counted for that office or public question.

(c) A person who receives more than one vote for the same office on any ballot shall be entitled to one vote, and one vote only.

(d) If the board of civil authority decides by majority vote of those present that any markings on a ballot were made for the purpose of enabling it to be identified and the vote traced, so as to defeat the secrecy of the ballot, that ballot shall be rejected. The board shall make a record of the rejection and the reason for it, and shall preserve the record with the ballot in question.

(e) In the case of "write-in" votes, the act of writing in the name of a candidate, or pasting a label containing a candidate's name upon the ballot, without other indications of the voter's intent, shall constitute a vote for that candidate, even though no cross is placed after such name. The election officials counting ballots and tallying results must list every person who receives a "write-in" vote and the number of votes received. On each tally sheet, the counters shall add together the names of candidates that are clearly the same person, even though a nickname or last name is used. Names of fictitious persons shall not be listed.

(f) When the same number of persons are nominated for the position of justice of the peace as there are positions to be filled, the presiding officer may declare the whole slate of candidates elected without making individual tallies, providing each person on the slate has more votes than the largest number of write-in votes for any one candidate. (Added 1977, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1979, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), §§ 83-85; 2003, No. 59, § 38.)