whats a total write in?

[the_tyrant]

the election results in Alaska: 40% total write in

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

the election results in Alaska: 40% total write in

Incumbent Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski ran as a write-in candidate after losing in the Republican primary to Joe Miller.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110302555.html

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski appears to be winning a write-in campaign to keep her seat, according to unofficial election returns posted Wednesday morning. If victorious, she would be the first U.S. senator elected by write-in vote in more than half a century...

The final ballot counting could take weeks. Officials must verify how many of the write-in votes were cast for Murkowski, who opted to fight for her seat after losing to tea party favorite Joe Miller in the Republican primary.

But with 99 percent of precincts reporting, Miller had captured only 34 percent of the vote. Write-in ballots accounted for 41 percent of the vote, and Democrat Scott McAdams had received 24 percent.

Sounds like around 40% of voters opted to go with a write-in ballot, presumably to vote for Murkowski; if so, and if the current percentages for the other candidates stay at 34% and 24% respectively, she will have won the election and kept her Senate seat.

[Platapus]

While different states have different rules, in Virginia, write-in votes have almost no chance of ever passing.

In Virginia, each write-in vote has to be an exact match in order to be counted together.

Lee Oswald
Lee H Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Mr. Oswald
LH Oswald
L. H. Oswald

All count as separate votes, each with one vote. If a candidate is seriously considering being a write-in candidate, they really need to advertise so that everyone knows exactly how to write in the vote.

As an election officer, I cringed when I heard that Alaska is considering evaluating "voter intent".

This is so wrong. It is the duty of the election officials to count the valid ballots. If a ballot is not valid, it is not valid. Introducing voter intent is a sloppy way to introduce bias and subjectivity into what should be a binary decision -- the ballot is valid or it is not.

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by Platapus

In Virginia, each write-in vote has to be an exact match in order to be counted together.

Lee Oswald
Lee H Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Mr. Oswald
LH Oswald
L. H. Oswald

Best example ever.

[the_tyrant]

Wow, i didn't know that could happen

[tater]

Originally Posted by Platapus

While different states have different rules, in Virginia, write-in votes have almost no chance of ever passing.

In Virginia, each write-in vote has to be an exact match in order to be counted together.

Lee Oswald
Lee H Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Mr. Oswald
LH Oswald
L. H. Oswald

All count as separate votes, each with one vote. If a candidate is seriously considering being a write-in candidate, they really need to advertise so that everyone knows exactly how to write in the vote.

As an election officer, I cringed when I heard that Alaska is considering evaluating "voter intent".

This is so wrong. It is the duty of the election officials to count the valid ballots. If a ballot is not valid, it is not valid. Introducing voter intent is a sloppy way to introduce bias and subjectivity into what should be a binary decision -- the ballot is valid or it is not.

Great post, and true.

She's a spoil sport, frankly. She lost fair and square in the primary, they throws a fit. Same is true of any candidate of any party that switches sides or becomes an "independent" because they lost a primary. They are all weasels—which is saying something given the company they are in to start with.

[Penguin]

the downsize of a write-in is that you need a litarate population (edit: haha, just noticed my spelling mistake - so I'm neither a proper voter)

My questions, mainly @ Platapus are:
1. Does the name of the write-in candidate has to be fully spelled or is just the common used first- and lastname sufficent? Could be funny with hispanic candidates if you have to spell out the whole names...

2. What if someone has a popular name, how can the voter intention be sorted out? Or would there be a second ballot (or mudwrestling) between all candidates with the same name if a "Jane Smith" would win?

I know what common sense would tell me, but (voting) laws and sense are often a contradiction

[Platapus]

Excellent questions and ones deserving a serious answer.

Please note that my answers may only pertain to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Other states may or may not have different laws and regulations.

Originally Posted by Penguin

My questions, mainly @ Platapus are:
1. Does the name of the write-in candidate has to be fully spelled or is just the common used first- and lastname sufficent? Could be funny with hispanic candidates if you have to spell out the whole names...

2. What if someone has a popular name, how can the voter intention be sorted out? Or would there be a second ballot (or mudwrestling) between all candidates with the same name if a "Jane Smith" would win?

Let me try to answer both of these questions at the same time.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." - Billy Shakespeare

You have asked one of the most disputed questions concerning Write-in votes. The Code of Virginia section 24.2-644 states

Subsection C (in part)

C. At all elections except primary elections it shall be lawful for any voter to vote for any person other than the listed candidates for the office by writing or hand printing the person's name on the official ballot.

Subsection D (in part)

No write-in vote shall be counted unless the name is entered on the ballot in conformance with this section.

No where is it defined what is or is not "the name", In Virginia, write-in votes are counted a minimum of two times by completely different groups of people. At no time is only one person allowed to count any vote (Stalin would not have liked Virginia).

In the first counting which is done at the precinct level, each variation of the spelling of the write-in vote is counted separately. Then the ballots are sent to the State Board of Election to be recounted.

Virginia Code section 24.2-644 subsection A (in entirety) states

A. The qualified voter shall take the official paper ballot and enter the voting booth. After entering the voting booth, the qualified voter shall mark immediately preceding the name of each candidate for whom he wishes to vote a check (√) or a cross (X or +) or a line (-) in the square provided for such purpose, leaving unmarked the square preceding the name of each candidate for whom he does not wish to vote. Any ballot marked so that the intent of the voter is clear shall be counted.

The $64 dollar question is: Does subsection A apply to subsections C and D? The answer in typical government legalese is: Yes, no and maybe.

During this second count there are representatives from all the political parties as well as representatives from the citizenry observing these counts. Any ballot can be challenged and then will be examined in accordance of the entire state law. Arguments ensue and this is why the counting of the votes can take months. And yes, jerks from all the parties sometimes attempt to stall the system by whining about challenges. Sucks to be on the SBE.

Ever wonder why there is such a long time between election day and when the person takes office? This is one of the reasons.

Now, it should be noted that in Virginia, for the Office of the President and Vice President, there are limitations on who can be written in. No write in vote will be counted unless the person who was written has previously submitted a Certificate of Intent to the State Board of Elections.

That means that when you write Mickey Mouse as your write in vote for President, it is not counted at all.

Specifically addressing your second question of common names, fortunately, this has not come up in Virginia Elections as of yet.

I think it would only become an issue if "Jane Smith" received a plurality of the votes, which is unlikely. However, I do believe that the state should have a back up plan, just in case this ever does happen.

Did I obfuscate this answer sufficiently to confuse the issue?

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Originally Posted by Platapus

In Virginia, each write-in vote has to be an exact match in order to be counted together.

Lee Oswald
Lee H Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Mr. Oswald
LH Oswald
L. H. Oswald

.

Damnit that means that all my votes for:
Grassy Knoll
G. Knoll
Lawn Hill
Grassy Mound
Turfed Tump
Knassy Groll

Were useless?!

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Damnit that means that all my votes for:
Grassy Knoll
G. Knoll
Lawn Hill
Grassy Mound
Turfed Tump
Knassy Groll

Were useless?!

No not useless, but each was counted separately for a total of 1 vote for 6 write-in candidates.