§ 168.679aReceiving board; appointment and duties of inspectors; review of poll book and

statement of returns; corrective action; delivery.
 Sec. 679a.
    (1) The election commission of a city or township shall, by resolution, provide that at an
 election at which the ballots are counted and certified at the precinct, 1 or more additional
 boards of election inspectors be appointed to serve as receiving boards. For a precinct having
 receiving boards, the board of election commissioners shall appoint a receiving board
 consisting of 2 or more election inspectors, with an equal number from each major political
 party, and shall appoint an equal number of election inspectors from each major political party.
    (2) Not less than 2 election inspectors in a precinct, representing each of the major political
 parties, shall deliver to the receiving board for that precinct a sealed ballot container
 containing the voted ballots, and, in a separate sealed envelope, the poll book and statement of
 returns. The poll book and statement of returns may be enclosed in a single sealed envelope.
    (3) The receiving board shall open the sealed envelope and review the poll book and
 statement of returns to determine both of the following:
    (a) That the ballot container is properly sealed and the seal number is properly recorded in
 the poll book and the statement of returns. If the ballot container is not properly sealed or there
 is a discrepancy with the seal number recorded in the poll book or the statement of returns, the
 election inspectors who delivered the ballot container and the receiving board shall together
 take the necessary steps to correct the discrepancy. The election inspectors and the receiving
 board shall note the discrepancy and the corrective action in the remarks section of the poll
 book and all shall sign the notation.
    (b) That the number of individuals voting recorded in the poll book equals the number of
 ballots issued to electors, as shown by the statement of returns. If the number of individuals
 voting as shown by the poll book does not equal the number of ballots counted as shown by
 the statement of returns, and if an explanation of the discrepancy has not been noted in the poll
 book, the receiving board shall ask the election inspectors about the discrepancy, note the
 explanation in the poll book, and all shall sign the notation.
    (4) If the poll book or statement of returns has been erroneously sealed in the ballot
 container, the election inspectors may open the ballot container and remove the poll book or
 statement of returns. The elections inspectors and receiving board shall note the corrective
 action in the remarks section of the poll book and all shall sign the notation before placing the
 poll book or statement of returns in a separate sealed envelope. If the statement of returns was
 sealed in the ballot container and the poll book was sealed in an envelope, the poll book must


                                                                    Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Thursday, April 30, 2026             Page 295 of 478                               Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

 be removed from the sealed envelope for the notation of corrective action to be recorded
 before placing the poll book and statement of returns in a sealed envelope. The receiving
 board shall notify the clerk of the board of canvassers responsible for canvassing all or a
 portion of the election of the corrective action taken.
    (5) When the receiving board has completed the review under subsection (3), the receiving
 board shall place the poll book and statement of returns in the appropriate envelope, sealed
 with a red paper seal and initialed by the receiving board. If permitted by the clerk of the
 board of canvassers, the poll books and statement of returns from more than 1 precinct may be
 included and delivered in a single envelope.