Write-in Votes

[ALB]

There's an interesting news item in today's papers:

http://news.yahoo.com/evolutionist-charles-darwin-gets-4-000-write-votes-160159056.html

Since we advocate a write-in vote (for socialism) at elections the fact that others do, on occasions, can surely only add credibility to our policy.

[alanjjohnstone]

However over 2 million pledged to vote for Jesus in the election. How many actually did, who knows.One aspect that the WSPUS should consider is the actual mechanics of the write-in vote which isn't universal in America and rules vary from state to state even for those that permit it. Be a useful link to provide for future elections. SOYMB blog recommended a write-in if the state permitted it on a couple of posts.This evangelical website summarises the rules and regulations for write ins. A double-check would be in order and the information used for the next election.http://votingforjesus.com/writein.htmGary Johnson of the Libertarians got a million votes, Jill Stein of the Greens half a million.

[ALB]

http://votingforjesus.com/writein.htm is interesting as it shows that the situation in many US States is much more formally democratic than here. A write-in contest between "Darwin" and "Jesus" would be interesting. The trouble is, in the US, "Jesus" would probably win.A write-in vote has no basis in UK electoral law. If you write anything on the ballot paper it is regarded as an invalid vote (and, curiously, classified as "voter's intention uncertain", even though in many cases it is quite clear what the voter meant). They don't (and won't) make provision for a box for "None of the Above" either.  In Belgium, where voting is compulsory, there is provision to cast a "blank" vote, even with electronic voting machines.

[ALB]

It looks as if a "write-in" vote is becoming more and more acceptable:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/nov/16/police-commissioner-spoilt-ballot-papersThis, surely, must have been the best election result ever in Britain with both record abstentions and record write-in votes.Glad to see that the best result was obtained at one polling station in my home town of Newport where nobody turned out to vote for the pro-capitalist non-entities on offer.

[Author]

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