Liberty MavenRon Paul Write-In Options, Rules For Each State
May 31st, 2008 11:22 pm | by Marc Gallagher | Published in Activism, Bob Barr, Election, Politics, Ron Paul | 4 Comments
I discovered this page containing a nice chart with the options for writing in candidates on the ballot. Each state has their own law regarding write-ins. I do not advocate writing in Ron Paul because it is an exercise in futility. Sure your conscience will be clean, but it does nothing to help spread the message. Some states require the candidate to be a ‘registered’ write-in candidate, some states prohibit write-ins entirely, and others prohibit write-ins for candidates that lost the primary in that state. Most states don’t even report the write-in vote totals.
For these reasons even if Ron Paul were to register as a write-in candidate in the states that allow it, he would likely not get enough votes for any media outlet to report it. That being said, I suppose it can be personally liberating to write his name in when November comes around. Just don’t hold any illusions about the overall effect it will have on spreading the freedom message.
By now it’s probably obvious I’m advocating voting for Bob Barr. Chuck Baldwin is also a great candidate, but Barr is the candidate who will spread the message to the most people. I support Baldwin’s campaign. I support Barr’s campaign, and I still support Ron Paul’s campaign. They are the liberty triumvirate. While Clinton, Obama, and McCain are the triple threat to our liberty.
The Democrats like to talk about their “dream” ticket. My dream ticket is Ron Paul for President, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin as Co-VPs. That right there is a lot of liberty.
To keep liberty alive vote for Barr, Baldwin, or Paul in November. Barr gets my vote.
June 1st, 2008 at 8:51 am (#)
Marc, a moment’s reflection will tell you that a Presidential candidate must be “registered” in a State for his votes to qualify in that state. The reason is simple. Popular votes cast in November are not cast for candidates for President and Vice President, despite what may be shown on their ballots. They are cast for a slate of electors who have agreed to be associated with the names of their party’s nominees for President and Vice President. But nobody actually votes for a candidate for President, and no votes are actually received by a candidate for Vice President, until those electors meet in their respective state (and D.C.) capitols in December to cast those votes themselves. So, unless the name you write in on your ballot is the name or names of one or more qualified voters in your state to be actual electors, or unless the “write-in candidate” has already filed a list of electors to be associated with ballots cast for his name, these write-in votes are votes for no one at all. Even “Mickey Mouse” would be a legitimate candidate if someone using that name has filed a list of electors agreeing to be associated with that name. But no one who doesn’t have such a list on file, even if he is “running” for President, can receive a recordable vote.
June 1st, 2008 at 10:21 am (#)
I love Ron Paul, but I’m going to put all my time and resources into Chuck Baldwin’s campaign now. The Republicans in Oregon rejected Dr. Paul, so there’s nothing more I can do for him in my state. That’s why I’m rolling-over my support to Chuck Baldwin. All those who worked for Ron Paul in their states should also now give their support to Chuck Baldwin. After all, Ron Paul is hinting that he would endorse Baldwin over Barr, if it comes down to it. Hear him say it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5YaqKf-yTg. Please hurry and go to http://www.Baldwin2008.com and see how you can help. There’s not much time! Thanks!
June 1st, 2008 at 11:45 am (#)
Suzanne,
I disagree with your assessment that Paul is “hinting” at endorsing Baldwin over Barr. It seems like wishful thinking at this point. He has only stated that he thinks both are good candidates and it the way I read it is that he doesn’t feel right endorsing one over the other at this time. To me that means he is endorsing both without officially doing so.
Thanks for your view and I hope Baldwin does well.
Enjoy,
Marc
June 1st, 2008 at 3:45 pm (#)
Here’s what you CAN do to help - sign a petition getting Bob Barr & William Redpath (for Senate) on the ballot in Va. I’ll be at the Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church on Thursday night for the NBA finals, and I’ll have petitions for you to sign.
Dan Fitzgerald
dangfitz at yahoo dot com