I should have posted about this yesterday, and several of my fellow bloggers already have, but I was a wee bit busy yesterday, so I’m going to cover it now. Apparently, Alabama poll workers can’t be bothered to count all of the votes.
Many of us voted for candidates who were actively running, but had to remain write-in candidates because Alabama ballot access laws are among the toughest in the nation. Candidates had to collect over 40,000 verifiable signatures in some cases, a condition not required of the Alabama Democratic and Republican parties. So third party candidates had to settle for write-in campaigns. I voted for two such candidates: Loretta Nall (governor) and Warren Grayson (U.S. House).
Here’s what Jefferson County elections supervisor Tim Baer had to say about us rebels:
“In the general election, there are people who write in their own name in every race,” Baer said. “I think we ought to get rid of them, or you ought to have to pay a fee to get your votes counted. This is when politics gets stupid.”
Mr. Baer, politics get stupid when you don’t allow the people to vote for who they want to, instead asking them to pick from a list. While there are a few bad apples, there are at least two very good reasons for writing in a name on a ballot:
1. The candidate you want was unable to get ballot access.
2. The candidate running is unopposed. Without any opposing votes (and even with the space left blank), the unopposed candidate receives 100% of the vote, sending the wrong message to the candidate that people actually wanted him in office. When a write-in vote is cast, and Joe Incumbent only wins with 20% of the vote, it hopefully sends a different message that he is out of touch with his constituents and needs to make a change.
On a side note, for those of you keeping score, many bloggers were encouraging write-in voting in a few races. That includes votes for Loretta Nall, Roy Moore, and Charles Barkley. I endorsed Warren Grayson. If the number of write-in votes became particularly pesky this year, we’re partially to blame. Guilty. I’m so guilty.
Perhaps there was a very good reason that there were so many write-in votes cast this year. Maybe we’re just fed up with the status quo. And if the poll workers aren’t happy with doing their taxpayer-funded jobs, I’ll be happy to take their place.
Perhaps the problem isn’t with write-in votes. Perhaps the problem is with the system, which makes it tougher for a genuine candidate to get on the ballot. Perhaps we need to make our ballot access laws a little better. Perhaps next time, to drive home a point, I’ll write-in my candidate in every race, regardless as to whether or not that candidate is already listed.
Loretta Nall has posted a letter that she will be sending to various newspaper editors regarding this issue. I will be doing the same.
UPDATE: Someone has created this T-shirt. I am SO going to buy one!!!
The Alabama Moderate 