168.560b. Names appearing on ballot; changes; appearance of given and middle names; common law names; nicknames; married names; violations | Statutes | Westlaw

Sec. 560b. (1) A candidate required to indicate a name change on the affidavit of identity under section 558¹ shall be listed on the ballot with his or her current name and former name as prescribed by the secretary of state.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), both a candidate's given name and surname that he or she was given at birth, and only those names, shall appear on the ballot, except under 1 of the following circumstances:

(3) A candidate may specify that both his or her given name and middle name, or only a middle name, shall appear on the ballot. A candidate may specify that either an initial or a recognized diminutive for the candidate's given or middle name, or for both, shall appear on the ballot. In addition, a candidate may specify that a common law name used in accordance with Michigan department of state guidelines for use of a common law name on a driver license or state personal identification card shall appear on that ballot.

(4) A candidate is prohibited from specifying that a nickname that is not a recognized diminutive of the candidate's common law name, given name, or middle name appear on the ballot. A married individual is prohibited from specifying that his or her spouse's given name, or an alternative for that given name otherwise permitted under subsection (3), appear on the ballot.

(5) A ballot that would violate this section shall not be produced, printed, or distributed.