Comments on: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Counting Write-In Votes in the District of Columbia

By: Washington City Paper: City Desk - Loose Lips Daily

Washington City Paper: City Desk - Loose Lips Daily — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:25:22 +0000

[...] CASE YOU MISSED IT—”Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Counting Write-In Votes in the District of Columbia“: “Simply writing in ‘Carol,’ the board will count as a vote for [...]

By: ANinDC

ANinDC — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:50:15 +0000

This is absolutely ridiculous! I think "Carol" or "Schwartz" alone heavily favors the write in candidate and is fundamentally unfair to the other candidates that worked hard to get on the ballot the "right" way. I wonder whether there were any impartial representatives at that meeting - say staff from the special committee on elections? It seems to defy logic that BOEE, an agency that is currently under Ms. Schwartz' oversight capacity, would be trusted to decide this matter impartially. Furthermore, it appears like BOEE made the decision without consultation with the others affected - was there no input at all by the other candidates? I just can't believe that the others would take this decision sitting down. Ms. Schwartz has done some good work but she's lost touch with the people. She should stand by her party's decision - We didn't see Hillary waging a write-in, did we? She is disrespectful of the process and the voters of the District and her attitude of entitlement to this position should convince voters that enough is enough!

By: Babs

Babs — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:44:08 +0000

I will be glad when she is gone, you lost, get over it.

By: Reid

Reid — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:32:09 +0000

Is there literally no other picture of Carol available? At least throw in those photos from Gray's BBQ every once in a while...

By: Mike DeBonis

Mike DeBonis — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:14:56 +0000

(a) Don't be so sure. LL is not super up-to-speed on case law, but elections officials are generally given wide latitude in determining voter intent. And rest assured that the BOEE general counsel has reviewed the standard here.

(b) According to the D.C. Municipal Regulations, as long as you don't overvote, circling a name would indeed be proof of voter intent. Problem is, it would only be counted in the course of a hand recount.

By: That's Some BS

That's Some BS — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:08:22 +0000

I'm pretty sure any judge worth his or her salt would throw out any votes for "Carol."

If I circle another person's name rather than connect the arrow, does that mean I intended to vote for them?

This is some BS!