Attorney General ex rel. Scott v. Glaser

Montgomery, J. A rehearing has been had in this case, and, after full consideration, we feel constrained to-modify in substantial respects the original opinion. In the-former opinion the Court held, in substance, that any mark upon a ballot not appropriate and necessary to express, the voter’s intention should be regarded as a distinguishing mark; and, applying this rule, it was held that when the name of the candidate appeared on two tickets, and a cross was placed in an appropriate place on each ticket, or opposite the name of the candidate on each ticket, neither vote should be counted. This conclusion was reached with some hesitancy, and in view of the practical difficulty of — 408 — applying any other general rale. But it is now earnestly pressed upon our attention that this construction runs counter to the practical construction which has been given by the law department of the State and by the election inspectors, and we feel impressed that sufficient consideration was not given to this fact in reaching the conclusion above stated. It appears that on the 24th of February, 1892, the Attorney General prepared a letter of instruction to inspectors of election and electors, in which it was stated that where ballots were used on which two tickets appeared with the name of a candidate for a place on each ticket, and a cross was placed in an appropriate place on each ticket, the ballot should be counted for such candidate. Attorney General’s Beport for 1892, pp. 183, 188-190. The question was again presented in October, 1892, when the Attorney General gave a similar opinion, which is found at page 135 of the report of the Attorney General .for 1893. In this opinion it was said: u The fact that the voter has indicated in more than one way that he desires to vote for any candidate on the ballot is no reason why he should lose his vote or the candidate be deprived of the credit.” It would appear, therefore, that at three different elections the voters have acted with this opinion of the Attorney General before them; and, if we adhere to the construction which we have given to the statute, the result is that many electors must have lost their votes, although they have followed implicitly the instructions of the legal department of the State. This certainly is a result to be deprecated, and one which should only be reached if forced upon us. It is evident that the statute is not entirely clear, as there is no express declaration as to what constitutes distinguishing marks; and the determination of that question depends upon the construction which is to be — 409 — placed upon the various provisions of the statute quoted in the former opinion. It has become a rule of law that the interpretation placed upon a statute by the different departments of the State having a duty to perform under the statute, while not absolutely binding upon the judicial department, is to be given weight in a doubtful case. In Westbrook v. Miller, 56 Mich. 151, it was said:- “ When, in the performance of executive duties, it becomes necessary for the executive department to construe a statute, great deference is always due to its judgment, and the obligation is increased by the lapse of considerable time before its acts are called in question,” — citing numerous cases, among which are Malonny v. Mahar, 1 Mich. 26; Britton v. Ferry, 14 Id. 53; Continental Improvement Co. v. Phelps, 47 Id. 299. See, also, Baker v. Police Commissioners, 62 Mich. 327; People v. Hurst, 41 Id. 328; People v. May, 3 Id. 598; Johnson v. Ballou, 28 Id. 379; Pease v. Peck, 18 How. 595. We think, in view of this practical construction, it should be held that the class of ballots above referred to are not illegal. While it may be said that the placing of the cross opposite the name of the candidate on each of the two tickets was unnecessary, neither, by itself, was inappropriate to express the voter’s intent, and we feel constrained to hold that the rule which was laid down in cur first opinion was too rigid. There were cast for the respondent certain tickets which had a cross under the party name of the Republican ticket, and also of bhe Citizens’ ticket, both tickets being identical. These we hold should have been counted. In the record they are illustrated by Exhibit 2. In the same opinion of the Attorney General first quoted, a ticket was presented in which the voter had placed opposite the names of the individual candidates on one ticket a cross? and had erased the names of the candidates on opposing tickets, and the opinion was expressed that — 410 — this was a valid vote for the candidates opposite whose names the cross was placed. The same considerations which lead us to hold that the votes first mentioned should be counted induce us to hold that these should likewise be counted. The erasure of the names upon the opposing ticket, while unnecessary, may have been made for the purpose of making more clear the intention of the voter. Tickets of this class are illustrated by Exhibit 15. This case is presented on demurrer to respondent's rejoinder to relator's replication. There are 40 votes in dispute which were counted for respondent, and 9 votes which were counted for relator which are in dispute. In determining what votes should be counted or rejected, we are to be guided by the rejoinder of respondent, which the demurrer admits to be true, and for convenience we will tabulate them by precincts: To be counted. To be rejected. 1st ward. 2 tickets: Corresponding to Exhibit 2. 1 ticket: Exhibit 3. 2 d ward, 1st dist. 2 tickets: 1 Exhibit 2; 1 Exhibit H. 3 tickets: Exhibits E, P, and G. 2d ward, 2d dist. 6 tickets: 2 Exhibit 2; Exhibits I, J, K, and 8. 1 ticket: Exhibit 7. 3d ward. 1 ticket: Exhibit L. 2 tickets: Exhibits 9 and 2ST. 4th ward, 1st dist. 5 tickets: 4 Exhibit 2; 1 Exhibit S. 4 tickets: 2 Exhibit 12; Exhibits 11 and 13. 4th ward, 2d dist. 2 tickets: Exhibit 2. 3 tickets: Exhibits T, TJ, and V. 5th ward. 2 tickets: Exhibit 2. 6th ward. 3 tickets: Exhibit 15. 3 tickets: Exhibits 16,17, and AA. To be counted, 23. To be rejected, 17. — 411 — There are a number of these ballots which haye under the heading more than a single cross. ' These crosses were not appropriate to express the voter’s intent, and the ballots are excluded. Exhibit 8 has a cross in the square under the Republican ticket, and two marks similar to commas in the square under the Democratic ticket.' These marks could not have been used to express the voter’s intent, and the ballot should be excluded. One ticket (Exhibit 8) has a cross in the appropriate place under the Republican ticket, and- on the ward ticket the name of the candidate for alderman is erased, and the word “Hayes,’’ the surname of the candidate on the opposing ticket, written in. This ticket, we think, should be counted, as it is evident that the purpose was to express an intent to vote for Hayes, although the voter failed to write his full name. Exhibit 17 has a cross under the heading “Republican Ticket,’’ with a half circle round it, and a figure 9 written in the square under the head “Citizens’ Ticket.’’ This should not have been counted, as the figure used certainly could not have been appropriate to express any intent of the voter, or so intended. Of the tickets counted for the relator, Exhibits B, W, and X should have been excluded, on account of multiplicity of crosses. • Exhibit M contained a cross under the head of the “Democratic Ticket,’’ and a cross opposite the name of Charles G-laser, on the Republican ticket, with a line drawn underneath the name of James A. Scott, without erasing the name. This ballot was counted for Scott, but should not have been counted for either, as the voter’s intent could not be ascertained. Exhibit 0 was counted for the relator. The ticket had — 412 — no cross upon it, but a blot in the center of the ticket. This should not háve been counted. Exhibit P had no cross upon it, but a straight line underneath the Democratic ticket. This should not have been counted, as the intent of the voter was not expressed in the manner provided by statute. Exhibit Z should have been excluded, as it had a cross under the Democratic ticket, outside the square, and the square was inclosed in a large circle, which could not have been used to express the voter’s intent. Of the nine votes counted for relator which are in contest, one (Exhibit C) was, we think, under the averments of respondent’s rejoinder, properly counted for him. It is alleged of this ballot that it “was marked with a cross in the square at the head of the Democratic ticket, and one of the names of the ward officers was partially erased, and the name Walter L. Portt written thereon with a lead pencil.” This was plainly an attempt to vote for Walter L. Portt for the office designated, and it should not be treated as a distinguishing mark. It is also apparent from the averments in respondent’s rejoinder that one ballot which was counted for respondent (Exhibit N) should have been counted for relator. This ballot was one cast in the Third ward, which is described in respondent’s rejoinder as follows: “The ticket was marked with a cross in the square at the head of the Republican ticket, and the name of Charles Glaser erased, and James A. Scott written in the Republican ticket, which ballot was also counted for respondent.” Deducting from the vote of the relator 8 votes, shown by respondent’s rejoinder to have been improperly counted for him, and adding the vote in the Third ward just referred to, which was counted for respondent, and which has been deducted from his vote, shows the relator to — 413 — have -received 1,171 votes. Deducting the 17 votes from respondent’s vote, he is shown to have received 1,170. The relator was elected by a majority of 1 vote, and judgment should be entered for him. Long and Grant, JJ., concurred with Montgomery, J.