“Simply a spelling error” is NOT a minor thing when dealing with write in ballots.
I recognize these voters PROBABLY meant to vote for the senator, but as a legal principle I can see requiring exact spelling on a write in.
How else can you possibly “know” who someone really planned to vote for on a write in??? There is no other way.
That's unquestionably correct. I think that trying to somehow deduce "voter intent" just leads down a very slippery slope (and may likely be unconstitutional).
“I recognize these voters PROBABLY meant to vote for the senator, but as a legal principle I can see requiring exact spelling on a write in.”
Let me state the following:
(1) I don’t think write in votes should be allowed - but that is a matter for the state to decide.
(2) As an outsider to Alaska I support Miller and think Murkoski is a poor loser. She should have accepted primary defeat.
(3) The will of the voters must be respected...even when I disagree with there choice. If not, then it isn’t a democracy.
Therefore, I think Joe Miller is hurting himself and conservatism to get too much into the “letter” of the law and not its “intent.” “If” clear intent is expressed in the ballot via write-in (although slightly misspelled) then the vote needs to be honored.
I prefer Joe and dislike Lisa, but I must respect the voters of that state as I would want to be respected in my own. To win on overly strict legalese is a “liberal” way of doing things. Do the “right” thing and it will come back in dividens.
And what happens if there are two write-ins (Murkowski being such a success) that are similar.
What if it’s Williams and Whiting? Would everyone who missed the silent h be disenfranchised or would the officials just guess which one the voter meant. Would it be decided if the name had a t or l because that’s also going to be subjective on the handwriting interpretation.
I just see this as a very slippery slope because you’re encouraging the Democrats (aka cheaters) to exploit this whole write-in thing down the road.
Because according to some Freeprs and conservatives following the rules EVERYONE IN THE STATE KNEW BEFORE THE ELECTION IS CHEATING...I’d have to say yes. Of course primary voters being disenchancised means nothing to these people. And election laws being overruled to allow printed write in sheets to be passed out means nothing to these people. I certainly hope I never hear these people complain about stolen elections again since they are okay with it in this instance.
>>>“Simply a spelling error” is NOT a minor thing when dealing with write in ballots.
I recognize these voters PROBABLY meant to vote for the senator, but as a legal principle I can see requiring exact spelling on a write in.
How else can you possibly “know” who someone really planned to vote for on a write in??? There is no other way.<<<
I live in Alaska, and here’s the bad news. The state supreme court has decided, a while ago, that “the intent of the voter” overrides spelling the name correctly. That means that a vote for Murcowsky or Mirkowski or Merkowskee will count as a vote for Lisa Murkowski. That’s established law up here. I voted for Miller, but right now he’s looking like the sore loser. It ain’t pretty.