Opinion, please, on Hillary write-in

[Hermit-The-Prog]

Last edited Tue Oct 23, 2018, 10:17 PM - Edit history (2)

I'm in a deep red county in a red state. There are 6 offices with unopposed Repugs running.

What if I voted for Hillary Clinton as a write-in for each of those?

[2nd Edit, conclusion]
I can't do it. Thanks to a warning by jodymarie aimee (#10 below) and several cautions by others about varying election laws, I've decided it's too risky to write in HRC, here. KY law is ambiguous enough that the GOPers might use it as an excuse to invalidate my ballot if there is a close race anywhere on the ballot. With people fighting to get real votes counted, it's not a good time for a protest vote in a red state. Protests belong on the street, in the news, or in debates, not the ballot.

Thanks to all who commented on this. We can do this.

[Edit to add]
Thanks for pointing out some "what ifs"!
Found some pertinent info on Kentucky election laws:
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Statutes/statute.aspx?id=44499

Naturally, it's confusing.

(1) A voter may, at any regular or special election, cast a write-in vote for any person qualified as provided in subsection (2) or (3) of this section, whose name does not appear upon the ballot label for any office, by writing the name of his or her choice upon the appropriate device for the office being voted on provided on the voting machine as required by KRS 117.125.

Note "subsection (2) or (3)". (Emphasis added). Subsection (2) requires a declaration of intent. Subsection (3) allows almost anyone.

Then:

(5)
The county clerk shall provide to the precinct election officers certified lists of those persons who have filed declarations of intent as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section. Only write-in votes cast for qualified candidates shall be counted.

Now, it's "and".

[Control-Z]

1. It couldn't hurt.

She wouldn't win anything because of it but it would probably make you and anyone you told about it feel better.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Local offices in my neck-of-the-woods are also often Republicans running unopposed

I admit that the last time I voted for the Green Party candidate in otherwise unopposed races - I think there were two. At least there was a second choice on the ballot, so I was hoping that this might encourage more opposition to step up.

[sprinkleeninow]

3. Hi Darlin'! That stinks, does it not? Repukes running unopposed.

A pleasant peace-filled remainder of this night be yours!
😍

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Actually, this time around, we do have more Democrats on the ballot!

I can remember when back in the day we had an incumbent Republican running unopposed for Congress! But something has gotten into people and there were 10! Democrats who stepped up this time - 6 who made it to the primary! And of those who either dropped out before the primary - or didn't get the nomination - two of those are running for other offices, both State Senator and Assembly have Democratic opposition this time around! The times really are changing!

[sprinkleeninow]

6. Well, that's an improvement! We got a couple here unopposed.

This 'climate' is unnerving. I find myself lately having 'birds' more frequently. I did a rant yesterday evening and husband told me to go take some meds. It piles up and then I let loose.
It's actually a tad funny when I go over how I acted throwing a fit. 😤

Be well...
💓

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I know exactly how you feel

My anxiety level has been way up - I can only take so much of the news these days. Whenever they show Trump's endless lying rants, I just have to change the channel. That's why I started posting the late night comedians - they do make the news easier to take and the humor does help - especially since there's no doubt that they feel the same way that we do - and they attack the news with wit. And at the moment I found Bewitched from 1967 - that was my favorite show when I was a kid, happier times!

[sprinkleeninow]

12. Ugly man was yakking and polluting NPR way earlier at the top of one hour.

I listen to a local univ. station playing all classical into the wee hours. Then his grating and disgusting voice comes on about this caravan stuff in a news update. He can go sod off.

Sweet dreamin'! 💙

[Rhiannon12866]

15. I often curse out the TV before I change the channel

That helps, too! Get some good rest and wishing you pleasant dreams...

[sprinkleeninow]

17. I yam goin' right now.

Nitey nite! 😴

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Goodnight!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

21. there are Dems running in new spots here too

There are a couple of positions on this ballot that are normally won in the Republican primary. This time, there are two Democrats running -- one for magistrate (glorified road tender, here) and one for constable (nobody knows what the duty is).

There is one local position in which a Democrat is running unopposed. I don't remember seeing that in the 40 years I've lived here.

[Rhiannon12866]

30. I really do think things have changed this time around

Back before 2006, the Democrats often didn't bother to field a candidate for this congressional district. Having a choice of six in the primary was unbelievable. And the Republicans who always run unopposed for State Senator and Assembly have opposition too - and the contests are pretty well publicized, I've been seeing signs all over! And not just in this district, but the neighboring one - the incumbent Republican has very strong opposition!

And that would never happen here - a Democrat running unopposed - but like I said, I think things are changing!

[mcar]

36. This is the 1st year in ages that R elected officials aren't running opposed

We've got some good Democrats who have stepped up!

[Cha]

4. Whomever was counting votes would

be pissed at the mere mention of her name.

So Do IT

[sprinkleeninow]

7. 'They' dish it out and we can handily SHOVEL it back.

And they can additionally SHOVE it.

Hi you!
😉

💙🇺🇸🌊

[Cha]

11. Hey Aloha You!

💙🇺🇸🌊

[sprinkleeninow]

13. 😍

[Hermit-The-Prog]

19. i confess that was the hope

I'd like to think somebody would be fuming at seeing that, either on the ballot or in the required, publicized tabulation.

Just wasn't sure if it would be considered disrespectful or maybe invalid (she's not a resident of my state).

[Mike Nelson]

9. Sounds...

… like fun! I would probably vote for Hillary Clinton, too! It lets them know you're out there and voting.

[sprinkleeninow]

14. That's the ticket--stick a gigantic burr in their saddle! 😅

[jodymarie aimee]

10. you are taking a chance

your ballot will be tossed, that is what they do in WI

[Hermit-The-Prog]

16. how is that legal?

That sounds like GOPerism gone mad. If the ballot has a "Write-In" space, how do they get away with tossing it for a write-in?

[rpannier]

22. It isn't

Otherwise someone like Lisa Murkowski would not be senator right now
There are probably other stipulations to having it tossed

[jodymarie aimee]

26. lots of not legal shit is done

here.

[rpannier]

20. I'd tell you to write in Satan

But, since his minion is already on the ballot, it'd be a waste of time

Write her name in. HRC for one, BHO for another, and so on

[Hermit-The-Prog]

24. head explosion!

County Attorney
Write-In __ Hillary Rodham Clinton

Jailer
Write-In __ Barack Husein Obama

Y'all might see mushroom clouds if I do that.

[Brother Buzz]

23. In my neck of the woods, unless the write-in candidate is registered as a write-in candidate....

the vote is tallied as a non vote and not recorded so, unfortunately, it will not be published. That being said, go for it and enjoy the moment.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

31. thanks!

Updated OP. It wouldn't be counted.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. If she, or anyone you choose, isn't eligible as a candidate, eg because of residency

then it'll just get recorded as a spoilt ballot. Are there people you can use, eg a local teacher or something - that you could say "they'd do a better job that the Republican idiot"?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

27. need to check the law here

I wouldn't want to write in someone who doesn't want the job. Some freak chance might put them in the office.

I need to check to see if there are restrictions on write-ins.

[Spider Jerusalem]

28. Depends on where you live, most places have rules on write-in candidates

writing in a candidate who isn't an approved write-in candidate can spoil your ballot; you can just not vote in those races (I understand the urge to protest, but you presumably also want your vote counted).

[Brother Buzz]

32. Writing in a candidate who isn't an approved write-in candidate does NOT spoil the entire ballot

The write-in is just not tallied in that one race on the ballot, at least in my area.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

33. that appears to be the case here

Best I can tell from the statutes, an unqualified write-in candidate wouldn't be counted here.

[Brother Buzz]

34. I became reasonably versed in the write-in laws, and am enjoying a good dose of Schadenfreude

A young punk libertarian, with the 'good old boys' network backing him, had his sights on a run for city council this November. That is, until he got a wild hair up his ass, and registered as a write-in candidate for state assembly against an unopposed Democratic candidate in the open primary. He came in second and was automatically placed on the November run-off ballot. Because he's on the ballot for assembly, he can't run for city council....so his network put together a decent write-in campaign, only (and this is where the Schadenfreude comes in) he can't register as a write-in candidate because he's already on the ballot.

My local politics are most peculiar.

[lapucelle]

29. First check the website of your state board of elections

to see if write-ins are allowed. Some states require prior filing of a candidate as an official write-in.

[lunamagica]

35. Go ahead!

[MineralMan]

37. Write-in votes like that are nothing but a protest.

So, do it, regardless of whether it gets counted or not. You might be the only one who knows about your vote, aside from any human who sees it, but you'll still have protested.