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Schneider will ask for recount

By DOMINIC ADAMS, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Saturday, August 16, 2008 12:58 AM EDT

DURAND - Democrat Les Schneider is betting $50 he'll get three more votes in a recount.

It will cost Schneider that much to have the Shiawassee County Board of Canvassers hand-count write-in ballots cast in five precincts within the city of Durand, Vernon Township and Venice Township. The canvassers certified the election Friday and Schneider came up with 17 votes - he needs 20 to be on the ballot.

Schneider wants his name to appear on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election for the District 4 seat on the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners. He's challenging Republican incumbent Jon Michael Fuja.

“The law says the intent was there,” Schneider said. “My argument is the intent was there if they wrote my name.”

But Shiawassee County Clerk Lauri Braid - who is a Republican - said she interprets the law differently.

Voters must darken an oval and write the candidate's name on the ballot for the vote to count, she said.

“Michigan is not a voter-intent state,” Braid said. “We don't try to determine what the voter's intent was.”

Schneider thought he had more than 30 votes after polls closed for the Aug. 5 primary.

He said Braid is narrowly interpreting the write-in law.

“It's pretty clear that it's a two-step process,” Braid said. “That's what the law says. It's very clear.”

Individuals have six calendar days after an election is certified to request a recount.

Braid said a recount would not take place before Tuesday.

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