The state has decided what to do in the case of look-alike write-in names in the Aug. 6 race for Detroit mayor.
Mike Duggan is running. So is Mike Dugeon.
The names sound the same, but are obviously spelled differently.
Duggan is the former chief of the Detroit Medical Center who launched a write-in campaign after a filing deadline issue forced him off the ballot.
Dugeon is a barber with no political experience.
State Elections Director of Michigan Chris Thomas says says if city elections officials have any question about the intent of the voter, that write-in ballot will have to be re-examined.
"They will then make a list of names and variations of names that appear and then indicate how many votes each variation got," Thomas says. "The city cannot make the determination that one variation goes for one candidate and another for another. All the city can do on election night and early Wednesday morning is report what the variations are and how many each received."
From there, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers will decide which write-in vote goes to which candidate.
The process could take up to two weeks to complete.
