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Livonia clerk defends decision to keep candidates on ballot after 'scrivener' errors; public urged to file court challenge if desired
Summary
During audience comments about candidate paperwork, the city clerk said a clerical (scrivener's) error — such as a transposed number — does not automatically disqualify candidates; she said only false affidavits would disqualify a candidate and that aggrieved parties may seek circuit-court review.
Public concern about candidate paperwork prompted an extended response from the Livonia City Clerk, who defended her office’s decision to keep 19 qualified candidates on the municipal ballot despite what she described as clerical, or "scrivener's," errors on some affidavits.
Multiple residents raised questions in audience communication about whether candidates with mistakes on nomination paperwork should be removed from the ballot. The clerk said she had reviewed the last 18 years of local-election files and found many past candidates with incomplete or inaccurate forms who nonetheless appeared on the ballot. She said the law permits the clerk to disqualify a candidate only when the affidavit contains a lie; clerical errors such as transposed numbers do not, by themselves, trigger disqualification.
"Creating a scrivener's error does not disqualify people," the clerk told council and the audience, adding that she had consulted clerks at state and county levels and that none advised automatic disqualification for clerical mistakes. She said that candidates who knowingly lied on their affidavits were disqualified and that anyone wishing to challenge the clerk’s determination may file a complaint with the circuit court.
Residents urged transparency and a public review of the events surrounding the filing process. Several councilmembers said they had received calls and wanted the matter clarified; the council scheduled an upcoming session to investigate process questions and related concerns. The clerk urged residents that if they believe a candidate filed false information, they may pursue judicial review.
