Looks Like We Can Add WV, ID, IL and MT to States Where it's Worth it to Write in Ron Paul

[James_Madison_Lives]

http://www.dailypaul.com/258475/loo...s-worth-it-to-write-in-ron-paul-2008-analysis

Total states to DEFINITELY WORTH IT TO WRITE-IN RON PAUL: CA, WI, VT, NH, PA, RI, AL, IA, MO, ME, WV, ID, MT, IL.

Others pending outcome of Richard Gilbert lawsuit.

Looks like we can add WV, ID, IL and MT to write-in states where it is worth it to write-in Ron Paul. Analysis of 2008 presidential write-in votes reported out by FEC:

http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/2008pres.pdf

WV, ID, and MT all counted votes for "Santa Claus," who obviously did not file a declaration. IL seems to just count all it's write-ins even though by state law it doesn't have to.

States officially reporting out write-in votes were: CA, WI, VT, NH, PA, RI.

AL and Iowa count them and are required to report them by name, but didn't in 2008. That means we would win in a state court fight to count the write-ins by name.

In Maine and Missouri Ron Paul is also an official write-in candidate, was not in 2008 (due to Gilbert settlement in MO and Maine filing by Paul supporters.)

TAKE-AWAY: Ron Paul write-in votes will be counted, or can be forced to be, in FOUR MORE STATES THAN WE THOUGHT PREVIOUSLY: WV, ID, MT, IL.

Total states to DEFINITELY WORTH IT TO WRITE-IN RON PAUL: CA, WI, VT, NH, PA, RI, AL, IA, MO, ME, WV, ID, MT, IL.

That's 157 ELECTORAL VOTE IMPACTED OUT OF 270 NEEDED TO WIN. This will force attention to the Ron Paul message. They are in for a big surprise.

 

[J_White]

thanks for this info !
not much point in writing him in, unless it is counted.
in other states, probably voting for someone else would be better.

 

[sailingaway]

thanks for this info !
not much point in writing him in, unless it is counted.
in other states, probably voting for someone else would be better.

Even if it weren't counted in my state I would write him in, since 'none of the above', which is counted as 'undervote' so long as you vote for SOMETHING on the ballot, is the second most accurate message I can send, rejection of the choices on the ballot. But it depends on the message you want to send, I guess.

 

[gorgonzola]

I picked up my balloting material yesterday (Maine). I called the secretary of state (elections division) to make sure my write in is correctly spelled out. She assured me "Ron Paul" would suffice. It does not have to be; Paul, Ronald E.

She also said the vote will be counted by name, not "other".

 

[sailingaway]

I picked up my balloting material yesterday (Maine). I called the secretary of state (elections division) to make sure my write in is correctly spelled out. She assured me "Ron Paul" would suffice. It does not have to be; Paul, Ronald E.

She also said the vote will be counted by name, not "other".

Excellent!

 

[Smart3]

Actually Santa Claus is a real guy, and perennial candidate.

 

[Crystallas]

They wont be counted in IL. Because somewhere, a County Elections Clerk decided to actually post the 1 vote, doesn't mean they are counted for an undeclared candidate.

We are supposed to be anti-media spin, but this thread is spin of it's own, as long as you keep IL in the title.

 

[sailingaway]

If you leave it blank or vote for someone not on the ballot it is counted in the general 'undervote' none of the above category. I don't know about this particular situation. Maybe the OP can comment on it?

 

[gorgonzola]

Only to digress a bit. Happy Thanksgiving!

I think that should be a bit more perennial!

Unfortunately, it's Halloween that the Wally world is targeting.

sad days indeed!

And the beat goes on....

 

[NoOneButPaul]

They wont be counted in IL. Because somewhere, a County Elections Clerk decided to actually post the 1 vote, doesn't mean they are counted for an undeclared candidate.

We are supposed to be anti-media spin, but this thread is spin of it's own, as long as you keep IL in the title.

Can you explain this a little more because as someone who lives in Illinois i'm really conflicted on what to do.

I've assumed from the beginning that my write in vote would be thrown away and because I don't really care anyway I was just going to walk in and write Ron Paul's name in with a Sharpie over the ballot. As time has gone on though i've considered more and more to vote for Johnson because they will actually count it.

I'm conflicted on whether or not I should waste the vote with the person I know is the right man for the job or have my vote counted just to send a message I don't even think should be sent (The LP is not the place for us).

If you're telling me my write in vote would be counted for Ron then there's no question i'll do it... can you clear this up for me?

 

[Crystallas]

Can you explain this a little more because as someone who lives in Illinois i'm really conflicted on what to do.

I've assumed from the beginning that my write in vote would be thrown away and because I don't really care anyway I was just going to walk in and write Ron Paul's name in with a Sharpie over the ballot. As time has gone on though i've considered more and more to vote for Johnson because they will actually count it.

I'm conflicted on whether or not I should waste the vote with the person I know is the right man for the job or have my vote counted just to send a message I don't even think should be sent (The LP is not the place for us).

If you're telling me my write in vote would be counted for Ron then there's no question i'll do it... can you clear this up for me?

I'm in the same boat as you. But I have some first hand experience with the process because I'm an election judge. I can't tell you who to vote for, but I can tell you that in IL, undeclared aren't counted(sadly, Dr. Paul will not be counted in IL). The one vote in the records is not because Ron only received one vote, but because somewhere a single county clerk reported that vote(either on purpose, or as an error), and it was never challenged because of how insignificant it was. If it were to be challenged, then that one vote would have been removed from the count.

If anything, as advice, don't let the whole ballot go to waste. You have other local elections that need your attention as well. Whether you want to vote strategically or with some protest is up to you. I'm personally holding my nose and voting for GJ, strictly because of the stupid write-in rules and procedures in this state. But that is my personal decision.

 

[John F Kennedy III]

Hopefully we will be able to write him in here in Arizona.

Is Vermin Supreme still in the race?

 

[WesSeid]

If the Libertarian Party gets a high enough percentage of the vote, it will qualify for a lot more funding and become more popular. This would help bring about the downfall of the two-party system.

A high percentage of votes for Ron Paul gets... what?

 

[sailingaway]

The same thing applies to the Green party getting funding and popularity, but since it isn't my candidate, I'm not voting for her, either. I'm writing in Ron Paul.

And I want his influence as high as possible after he leaves office, because I want him to continue to be the standard bearer. I don't want the standard watered down.

And why are we pushing government spending as a reason to vote?

 

[sailingaway]

I'm in the same boat as you. But I have some first hand experience with the process because I'm an election judge. I can't tell you who to vote for, but I can tell you that in IL, undeclared aren't counted(sadly, Dr. Paul will not be counted in IL). The one vote in the records is not because Ron only received one vote, but because somewhere a single county clerk reported that vote(either on purpose, or as an error), and it was never challenged because of how insignificant it was. If it were to be challenged, then that one vote would have been removed from the count.

If anything, as advice, don't let the whole ballot go to waste. You have other local elections that need your attention as well. Whether you want to vote strategically or with some protest is up to you. I'm personally holding my nose and voting for GJ, strictly because of the stupid write-in rules and procedures in this state. But that is my personal decision.

but in ALL states, not just those above, voting, but failing to vote for a named/certified candidate creates an 'undervote' notation, and the undervotes are tallied. It isn't by individual you write in, but it is a 'none of the above' vote, imho.

 

[CPUd]

If the Libertarian Party gets a high enough percentage of the vote, it will qualify for a lot more funding and become more popular. This would help bring about the downfall of the two-party system.

A high percentage of votes for Ron Paul gets... what?

This assumes they will report the actual numbers without shaving/disqualifying ballots. There was a very curious trend during the primaries, in states where RP had to get a certain threshold (anywhere between 10-20%) to get any bound delegates from that state, but generally they reported his numbers just short of the mark.

 

[Crystallas]

but in ALL states, not just those above, voting, but failing to vote for a named/certified candidate creates an 'undervote' notation, and the undervotes are tallied. It isn't by individual you write in, but it is a 'none of the above' vote, imho.

IL doesn't count the votes. That means there is no "none of the above", and it is not even counted as anything, just scrapped. I'm not going to begin speaking about states that I know nothing about, just my own. If some clerks want to count them out of curiosity and report those totals, I guess they could, but they wouldn't be official in any ways(other that some wikipedia citation using an unofficial source), and in their own best interest, doing so would be a quick way to get put under the microscope.

 

[randomname]

The fact that writeins for all candidates were counted in 2008 doesnt mean they will be in 2012. Dont underestimate peoples hatred of Ron Paul, i wouldnt put it past them not to publish the writeins anymore, just because Ron Paul got a sizeable number.

 

[CPUd]

IL doesn't count the votes. That means there is no "none of the above", and it is not even counted as anything, just scrapped. I'm not going to begin speaking about states that I know nothing about, just my own. If some clerks want to count them out of curiosity and report those totals, I guess they could, but they wouldn't be official in any ways(other that some wikipedia citation using an unofficial source), and in their own best interest, doing so would be a quick way to get put under the microscope.

Are you saying if someone votes in local races, but doesn't vote for anyone for President, they toss the whole ballot?

 

[NoOneButPaul]

If the Libertarian Party gets a high enough percentage of the vote, it will qualify for a lot more funding and become more popular. This would help bring about the downfall of the two-party system.

A high percentage of votes for Ron Paul gets... what?

Success of the LP is good because.....?

Even if the LP did what you think they could (they can't, they aren't even the largest 3rd party in Nevada, the LP is a joke) but even if they did what you want them to what would that accomplish? It would split conservatives all across the nation and give the Democratic-Socialists all the power from here until the end.

Take the LP's success to it's logical conclusion... it's terrible for conservatism everywhere.

The best way to break the 2-party system is to take one of the parties over and then banish all parties forever. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th parties are only going to give us more of the same on a smaller level.

Ron Paul learned his lessons when it came to the LP already...