R623-2-5. Uniform Counting Standards for Punch Card Voting Systems

A. Prior to the counting of the ballots by automatic tabulating equipment, at least one team of election personnel shall inspect the ballots for loose chads, ballot damage, including holes that are too large, a ballot that is torn in the mail, etc., written instructions and corrections, and write-in votes. The purpose of the inspection shall be to insure that all ballots are machine-readable and that the voter's intent will be recorded correctly and accurately. In some instances, duplication of the ballot may be necessary in order to count the ballot.

B. All loose chads shall be removed to insure that all of the voter's choices on the ballot are correctly and accurately reflected in the count.

1. A chad that is unattached on two or more corners represents a vote and shall be removed.

2. If a chad is attached to a punch card ballot by three or four corners, unless there is a complete hole in the chad made by the stylus, no vote shall be recorded for that candidate, issue or question at that particular ballot position, and the chad shall not be removed.

C. Dimpled mark or puncture. If the ballot has been marked according to instructions but there is a dimple mark located wholly on the non removed chad, that mark shall be considered a random mark, no vote shall be recorded for that candidate, issue or question at that particular ballot position, and the chad shall not be removed.

D. Damaged ballots. If the ballot has damage or defects that would cause problems in tallying, the ballot shall be duplicated to the extent possible in accordance with the voter's intent. If the voter's intent cannot be determined for a specific office, issue or question on the damaged ballot, that position shall be left blank on the duplicate ballot.

E. If other material is included with an absentee ballot or is attached to the secrecy envelope, the material shall be inspected to determine if it has a bearing on the voter's intent. If the material has a bearing on the voter's intent, the original ballot shall be duplicated as necessary and the original ballot, along with the material, shall be placed in an envelope marked "Duplicated Ballot". If the material has no bearing on the voter's intent, it shall be discarded.