[Peace-discuss] Post-voting reflections.

[Phil Stinard]

I didn't have the answer to the question I posed below when I went to vote 
this morning, so I ended up writing in only Ralph Nader's name since I 
couldn't remember that Camejo's first name was Peter.  After the votes are 
counted, I'll check to see if any votes for Nader were tallied in my 
precinct.  I consider this an experiment in democracy.  At least I didn't 
vote for anyone I wouldn't be comfortable with winning.

Later this morning, I found the following article in the Pittsburgh 
Tribune-Review on casting a write-in vote for Nader in Pennsylvania.  In 
Pennsylvania, you not only have to write in Peter Camejo's name, but also 
the name of 21 electors.  Is it more difficult to cast a write-in vote for 
Nader in Illinois than in Pennsylvania?  Who knows?  Mark Shelden doesn't 
tell us in his little voter guide.  Have a happy election day.

--Phil

Nader voters must be determined

By Matthew Junker
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, October 15, 2004

Pennsylvania voters still interested in voting for Ralph Nader even though 
his name has been removed from the ballot must take a sharp pencil and an 
even sharper memory to the polls Nov. 2.

According to Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro A. Cortes and local 
election officials, a proper write-in vote for Nader must include not only 
Nader's name and that of his running mate, Peter Camejo, but all 21 electors 
as well.

And in three area counties -- Allegheny, Westmoreland and Fayette -- the 
space provided for the potentially hand-cramping task of writing in 23 names 
is 2 1/2 inches high by 2 inches wide.

"That's enough space. You could write 10 down one side and 13 down the 
other," said Paula T. Pedicone, director of the Westmoreland County Election 
Bureau.
--------------------------------------

Phil Stinard wrote November 1, 2002:

Today's Daily Illini made the passing comment that if you wish to write in a 
candidate for President, you also have to write in the name of the candidate 
for Vice President.  The implication is that write-ins with the president's 
name only might not be counted.  The Voter's Guide published by the 
Champaign Country Clerk's office is not clear on this at all.  It simply 
states:

"You may cast a write-in vote for a candidate whose name is not on the 
ballot. A write-in is executed on the upper long stub of a fold-over ballot. 
(illustration 2) You must write the name of the office and under it, draw a 
box and a line to the right. Write the name of your candidate on the line 
and place an "X" in the box being certain the lines of the "X" intersect 
within the box. A write-in form is provided on the ballot card envelope in 
the case of regular (short stub) punch cards. (illustration 3) A write-in 
vote will not be counted for any candidate who has failed to file an Intent 
to be a Write-in Candidate as prescribed by law."

Someone please clarify this for us write-in voters.

In general, the voting system in Champaign Country leaves much to be desire. 
  I've always wondered after I walked out  of the polling place whether my 
vote was counted.  There is no way to know.  I would feel more reassured if 
the machine, even the mechanical punchcard machines, printed a receipt 
showing that the vote was registered by the machine.  As it is, I don't 
think they begin to count the votes until after the polls have closed.  
Someone could clarify this as well.

--Phil