Thousands of Humboldt Write-In Votes Disregarded

[GuvWurld]

http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4036141

Article Launched: 07/11/2006 04:27:13 AM PDT

Write-in revolt -- almost
James Faulk / The Times-Standard

Thousands of voters try to cross party lines, and fail

EUREKA -- Potentially thousands of Humboldt County voters weren't happy with the choices on their ballot this past election and tried to write in the name of someone they felt was better able to serve.

(snip)

Humboldt County Elections Officer Lindsey McWilliams said the high number of write-in votes may have had to do with the public's desire for open primaries, where any voter can vote for any candidate in any election.

(snip)

But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that open primaries were unconstitutional, and now only Republicans and Democrats can vote in their primary elections, minus a few exceptions.

Thousands of voters here, though, did not understand the rule or chose to protest it by writing in candidates from the opposing party.

Such votes were wasted, because in order to receive a write-in vote, a candidate has to file a write-in candidate's statement and the required number of signatures, among other things.

MORE...

[DRoseDARs]

1. How can open primary voting be unconstitutional? n/t

:shrug:

[GuvWurld]

2. I don't know, but...

at least two people wrote me in as their choice for Registrar. Wasted votes.

"If nominated, I will not run.
If elected, I will not serve."

[Wilms]

3. Hilarious quote.

You holding out for SoS? :D

[GuvWurld]

4. source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tecumseh_Sherman

William Tecumseh Sherman (February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a general in the United States Army during the American Civil War (1861–65), receiving both recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy, and criticism for the harshness of the "scorched earth" policies he implemented in conducting total war against the enemy. Military historian Basil Liddell Hart famously declared that Sherman was "the first modern general."<1>

(snip)

Sherman was proposed as a Republican candidate for the presidential election of 1884, but declined as emphatically as possible, saying, "If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve." Such a categorical rejection of a candidacy is now referred to as a "Sherman Statement."

[Wilms]

5. Then there was LBJ, another earth scorcher, who said...

"I will not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party..."

[Boredtodeath]

6. Happens EVERY election with DREs

In 2002 in Georgia, they couldn't even tell the write-in candidate how many votes were cast for her.

Of course, the DEMS didn't give a shit because that VALID write-in candidate was a Green.

So, now that they're doing the same to DEMs everyone is supposed to get up in arms?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. California primary laws are confusing

???