Voted for Aurelius Christian? Here’s how to 'spoil' your ballot

FRIDAY, OCT. 10 — Lansing voters who have already cast their vote for Aurelius Christian before he dropped out of the at-large City Council race on Sunday have until Oct. 24 to “spoil” their ballots and cast their votes for another candidate.

More than 4,300 voters have already returned their completed ballots,  City Clerk Chris Swope said.

Despite his withdrawal, votes for Christian will still be counted unless voters spoil their ballots.

How many end up voting for Christian will only become known after the polls close Nov. 4. And although it's improbable that Christian will win, in a close race among the three remaining candidates for two at-large seats — Jeremy A. Garza, Clara Martinez, and Julie Vandenboom — Christian could be a spoiler himself.

To spoil a ballot, voters must fill out a simple form requiring their name, address and signature. The form can be filled out in person or printed at home and mailed, emailed or dropped off at a city drop box. Those without access to a printer can simply sign a handwritten note and email a photo of it to the City Clerk’s Office. More details and a link to the form can be found at the city website.

Because of Michigan’s permanent mail ballot list, in which voters can sign up once to receive an absentee ballot in every successive election, there is “more of a potential for someone to get votes who is not running,” Swope said. There is also a greater risk of someone withdrawing close to the election, winning and not wanting to take office, Swope said.

In such a situation, the third-place candidate would not win in the four-person race for two at-large seats. The City Council would appoint someone to fill the seat after Jan. 1, 2026.

Despite the ease of spoiling a ballot, Swope said it’s unlikely that many will do so.

“I would expect it’s not a large number,” he said, though one voter did spoil a ballot the day Christian withdrew. The clerk’s office does not ask for a reason.

“There are certainly some people who probably voted for him, but maybe they don’t like any other choice,” Swope said.