Ballot

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Libertarian, Republican, Green, American Independent, Peace and Freedom, Democratic. Why are they listed in this order? Why isn't McCain-Palin at the very bottom instead of Obama-Biden? Who decides this? I wonder how many leftie votes will go to the combination of Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 19, 2008 at 6:18 PM

comment #1

Sweetbubba says ...

If not for Keyes in the middle of the ballet, It's in alphabetical order based upon last name of the lead candidate. Kinda screwy

Posted by Sweetbubba at October 19, 2008 6:58 PM

comment #2

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

"Why are they listed in this order?"

They choose the top slot at random (because a certain statistical percentage of voters automatically votes for the first choice) then go alphabetically.

In this case, the top slot also happens to be first alphabetically, going by lead candidate surname.

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson at October 19, 2008 6:59 PM

comment #3

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

Or not. I just noticed Keyes is out of order, thanks to Sweetbubba.

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson at October 19, 2008 7:00 PM

comment #4

lazarus says ...

The funny business isn't going to happen on the ballots themselves, but with the Diebold machines.

Posted by lazarus at October 19, 2008 7:07 PM

comment #5

drbob says ...

Its in order of intelligence from least to most. That's the only explanation that makes sense to me.

Posted by drbob at October 19, 2008 7:23 PM

comment #6

TheJeff says ...

There's a note underneath the names in that picture describing why they are listed in that order. Of course we can't read it all...

Posted by TheJeff at October 19, 2008 7:43 PM

comment #7

Mr. F. says ...

Jeff -- what state/county's absentee ballot would that be?

As far as my LA county ballot goes: I filled it out this weekend... and Obama-Biden are in the top spot/bubble #8. The order is otherwise the same, but rather than being at the bottom, Obama's first and everyone else is down one slot.

And before you think I'm nuts, I just double-checked the booklet... yep, Obama-Biden is #1.

Posted by Mr. F. at October 19, 2008 7:45 PM

comment #8

Mr. F. says ...

Ah -- look at the fine print below that TheJeff mentions, specifically the last two sentences:

"Additionally, candidates for FEDERAL, most state and some local offices change positions, or "rotate." This prevents a specific candidate's name from appearing first, or last, on all ballots."

I only paid attention to the first sentence over the weekend, the one about names being chosen by random drawing... but figured the order was consistent throughout the state, if not country. Looks like that's not the case, and the reason why my ballot # needs to match my booklet # needs to match my envelope #...

Ah, civics.

Posted by Mr. F. at October 19, 2008 7:51 PM

comment #9

moviesquad says ...

If the order of where your preferred candidate falls on the ballot causes him not to win, he didn't deserve to win in the first place.

Posted by moviesquad at October 19, 2008 8:00 PM

comment #10

Mr. F. says ...

Moviesquad: how dare you be so disgustingly sexist!

Should we assume you hold out no hope whatsoever for the powerhouse Green candidates, Cynthia McKinney and veep Rosa Clemente, aka the XX-XX-XX-XX team?

Posted by Mr. F. at October 19, 2008 8:16 PM

comment #11

BurmaShave says ...

To answer Wells' query, I can't imagine many more than will go to Barr and Keyes. Fuck, does Alan Keyes even know he's running for President this year?

Posted by BurmaShave at October 19, 2008 8:25 PM

comment #12

Josh Massey says ...

This conservative vote went to Bob Barr, so I guess I'm the counter-balance for one for Nader.

Of course, my only choices in Georgia were Obama, McCain and Barr.

Posted by Josh Massey at October 19, 2008 8:33 PM

comment #13

TheJeff says ...

There are 16 candidates on the Colorado ballot this year!

# John McCain - Republican
# Barack Obama - Democrat
# Chuck Baldwin - Constitution
# Bob Barr - Libertarian
# Cynthia McKinney - Green
# Jonathan E. Allen - HeartQuake ‘08
# Gene C. Amondson - Prohibition
# James Harris - Socialist Workers
# Charles Jay - Boston Tea
# Alan Keyes - America’s Independent
# Gloria La Riva - Socialism and Liberation
# Bradford Lyttle - U.S. Pacifist
# Frank Edward McEnulty - Unaffiliated
# Brian Moore - Socialist USA
# Ralph Nader - Unaffiliated
# Thomas Robert Stevens - Objectivist

Posted by TheJeff at October 19, 2008 10:10 PM

comment #14

Dan Revill says ...

HeartQuake '08. Sounds like the name for a Pentecostal conference on marriage.

Posted by Dan Revill at October 19, 2008 10:37 PM

comment #15

corey3rd says ...

and yet they kept Colbert off the ballot and let Keyes go on? Disgusting.

Posted by corey3rd at October 19, 2008 10:49 PM

comment #16

D.Z. says ...

lazarus: I'm just glad the Repugs weren't able to steal Ohio this time.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/17/ohio.voting/?iref=mpstoryview

Posted by D.Z. at October 19, 2008 11:56 PM

comment #17

diesel says ...

worth noting, most europeans think the us system is a two-party system. i didn't even know you allowed a party that calls itself socialist usa.

Posted by diesel at October 20, 2008 12:13 AM

comment #18

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Fuck, does Alan Keyes even know he's running for President this year?

Tip of the hat to you sir, Snark of the Day.

And yes, Jeff, as everyone has been pointing out (and the fineprint at the bottom told you), the names have been rotated on ballots for a long time now.

Any political junkie knows this and if you didn't, well, it's pretty much the same as not knowing obscure Kubrick references. Let me know how that petard feels...

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at October 20, 2008 12:47 AM

comment #19

Melbornboy says ...

As an Australian (who reads your blog everyday) with an American partner who just received a San Fran absentee ballot I am confused by the seeming illogic of a random ballot? The US voting system seems unreasonably complicated. Btw, McCain/Palin are at the top of at least one San Fran county ballot. Me and mine in Oz are crossing fingers for Obama.

Posted by Melbornboy at October 20, 2008 12:48 AM

comment #20

D.Z. says ...

So who was it again who kept claiming that the *Dems* blocked legislation which would have regulated lenders? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_bi_ge/the_influence_game_housing

Posted by D.Z. at October 20, 2008 3:31 AM

comment #21

EDouglas says ...

Since Obama probably has New York sewn up, I might just vote for someone else, so if he really sucks as President, I can't get blamed.

Posted by EDouglas at October 20, 2008 4:46 AM

comment #22

iamwhoiam says ...

Seriously, America, you still vote in this way?

Posted by iamwhoiam at October 20, 2008 7:19 AM

comment #23

GonePostal says ...

iamwhoiam "Seriously, America, you still vote in this way?"

What's wrong with this way America votes? Sure, the butterfly ballots are iffy, but this ballot seems pretty straightforward and normal?

Posted by GonePostal at October 20, 2008 9:32 AM

comment #24

Movie Watcher says ...

It would be interesting to see the ballots from all the states. Someone should put that together.

Posted by Movie Watcher at October 20, 2008 10:17 AM

comment #25

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

It's not a ballot, it's a page from the Voter Guide that everyone in LA County (and I assume the rest of the counties) get for every election.

FYI - on mine Alan Keyes was first, Obama in the middle and McCain next to last above Cynthia McKinney. Dead last, exactly where I want to see the Greens.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at October 20, 2008 10:20 AM

comment #26

iamwhoiam says ...

GonePostal, no offense intended, so my apology. In Israel you have different card to each party, you choose a card, put it in an envelope, and that's it. No room for punching mistakes or anything. This ballot just seems a little too low tech for America.

Posted by iamwhoiam at October 20, 2008 2:00 PM

comment #27