Disallowed San Diego mayoral ballots would have elected write-in

[Judi Lynn]

Disallowed San Diego mayoral ballots would have elected write-in
posted by: Paola Farer (Web Producer)
Created: 12/15/2004 10:16 PM MST - Updated: 12/15/2004 10:17 PM MST




SAN DIEGO (AP) - A complete review of disqualified ballots in San Diego's mayoral race showed Wednesday that write-in candidate Donna Frye would have ousted Mayor Dick Murphy had those votes been counted.

The final tally showed that 5,547 voters wrote in Frye's name but failed to darken the adjoining bubble -- enough votes to eclipse Murphy's 2,108-vote margin of victory in a three-way race.

Frye, a city councilwoman who launched her write-in bid five weeks before the Nov. 2 election, remained undecided on her next move. She has until Jan. 7 -- or 30 days from the election's certification -- to pursue a legal challenge.

Sally McPherson, San Diego County's registrar of voters, determined that ballots with unfilled bubbles cannot be counted under state election law. A Superior Court judge upheld her position last month in a challenge filed by the League of Women Voters of San Diego.

"Law says that you got to fill in the oval. I don't think our position will change -- it will not change," McPherson said Wednesday.
(snip/...)

http://9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=da4e65db-0abe-421a-0001-720939bc8422&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf



Sally McPherson
Registrar of Voters
5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I
San Diego, CA 92123
For General Information Call: [phone]

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. anybody for recalling Murphy?

God I hate these people!

Wanna bet that if the foot was on the other shoe they would be screaming holly murder?

[Liberty Belle]

2. law says we can in 6 months, I heard.

Is that 6 months after the election or the swearing in?

[GreenArrow]

3. intent of the voter

clear intent of the fucking voter. That's all that matters. Count the votes!

[UL_Approved]

4. Case needs to go before an appeals court

This law needs to be declared unconstitutional. The fact that a WRITE IN candidate would have WON had it not been for 5,547 votes not counted is a clear violation of voting sentiment.

The voters represent the best example of democracy we have seen in years in this race. The election officials represent the worst. I am nominating this for the front page, but I don't know if it will get reviewed or not.

[MessiahRp]

7. Yep.

The State Supreme Court may have shot it down but this is most definitely a bigger case than that. If there's that much clear intent, there's no questions in my opinion as to who should be Mayor of SD right now.

Rp

[kurtyboy]

8. If it had been in Washington State:

Write-ins are not considered at all unless there is a recount, OR!!! somebody registers as a write-in. Yes, they actually have a way to declare yourself a write-in candidate, and if you do, then every write-in in that race is considered--provided the voting instructions are followed. The oval wouldn't matter--so ong as the name AND THE PARTY AFFILIATION are written on the line.

THat last detail usually torpedoes write-in campaigns here.

In Caleeforneeya, this case is clear in terms of voter intent, which seems to be the gold standard when it comes to elections. Count the damned votes and let the woman serve!

[frylock]

5. this is straight up bullshiz..

nowhere at the polls was there anything instructing voters that the bubbles had to be filled in. The only time it was ever addressed was through PSAs from Frye's campaign team. The CT in me tends to believe that the Registrar of Voters deliberately failed to instruct voters for the very purpose of pulling this krap.

[idiosyncratic]

6. Like it is real important to fill in the bubble when you write in the

name. Those ballots have to be counted by hand and it is real easy to see if the person has written in a name or not.


Sheesh!! I hope they throw this law out and count every single one of Donna's votes!!

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

9. Just Another Example

of how Screwed we are. And it's really not amazing that the other side is hiding behind their little technicalities. Basically because that's all they have to go on. Sticking to the facts and evidence, it's clear what the reality is.

Someone said it best. If you write in the Frickin' name, but leave the bubble blank......DUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHH!!!! The intent of who the vote is for, is Crystal Clear. But we can't let that stand in the way of a true Dictatorship. That would be un-american.

[idiosyncratic]

10. Oh . . . I think that might have been me. :blush:

Another thread

[NashVegas]

11. duplicate, locking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1072590