Presidential election observation and poll.

[Pat Cannon]

I was sure I was just casting a protest vote for Jesse Ventura.

[grousemaster]

Don't cast a write-in vote. In Minnesota (and most states), write in votes aren't even counted unless the person you are writing in declares their intent to be a write in candidate. Ron Paul isn't going to do this. If you write in Ron Paul or anyone else (unless they declare write-in status), you truly are wasting your vote.

I know the intent is by writing in Paul, it's going to send a message. In reality, because he isn't going to register as a write-in candidate, a vote for him will just get lumped into the generic "Other Write-In Votes". His name won't even show up on the results. See 2008 results: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... sota,_2008

If Ron Paul was on the ballot, he would get my vote. Since it doesn't look like that's going to happen, I'll be voting for someone that the vote will actually count for.

What do you have to say about this Heffay?

[Heffay]

Don't cast a write-in vote. In Minnesota (and most states), write in votes aren't even counted unless the person you are writing in declares their intent to be a write in candidate. Ron Paul isn't going to do this. If you write in Ron Paul or anyone else (unless they declare write-in status), you truly are wasting your vote.

I know the intent is by writing in Paul, it's going to send a message. In reality, because he isn't going to register as a write-in candidate, a vote for him will just get lumped into the generic "Other Write-In Votes". His name won't even show up on the results. See 2008 results: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... sota,_2008

If Ron Paul was on the ballot, he would get my vote. Since it doesn't look like that's going to happen, I'll be voting for someone that the vote will actually count for.

What do you have to say about this Heffay?

it says very specifically in that article that there is a write-in vote category. Sure sounds like my vote was counted after all.

[chudrockz]

I think people get caught up in the "wasted vote" or "will the vote count" thing. I'm writing in Ron Paul. Not because he'll win, and not to "send a message." I don't even care whether it gets counted, or tossed outside in the grass and peed on. I'm voting for the best candidate. Period. Anyone else who might win is a Gomer Pyle in my opinion, and not worth a damn.

If you're writing in Ron Paul, then you aren't voting for the best candidate - since he isn't running. Using your definition, everyone is a candidate for every office...

I'm not sayin' don't do it, just don't call him a "candidate".

At this point he sure as hell IS still a candidate. As I type this, he's still in the race for the Republican nomination. And even though it's all but certain and Mitt has even chosen a running mate, anything can happen. So until he's not a candidate, he IS.

And I'm going to vote for him no matter what. Even if it came down to the entire future depending on my vote, and I could elect the President by myself, I'm writing in Ron Paul.

[Heffay]

I think people get caught up in the "wasted vote" or "will the vote count" thing. I'm writing in Ron Paul. Not because he'll win, and not to "send a message." I don't even care whether it gets counted, or tossed outside in the grass and peed on. I'm voting for the best candidate. Period. Anyone else who might win is a Gomer Pyle in my opinion, and not worth a damn.

If you're writing in Ron Paul, then you aren't voting for the best candidate - since he isn't running. Using your definition, everyone is a candidate for every office...

I'm not sayin' don't do it, just don't call him a "candidate".

At this point he sure as hell IS still a candidate. As I type this, he's still in the race for the Republican nomination. And even though it's all but certain and Mitt has even chosen a running mate, anything can happen. So until he's not a candidate, he IS.

And I'm going to vote for him no matter what. Even if it came down to the entire future depending on my vote, and I could elect the President by myself, I'm writing in Ron Paul.

Same here.

[fishdude]

I think people get caught up in the "wasted vote" or "will the vote count" thing. I'm writing in Ron Paul. Not because he'll win, and not to "send a message." I don't even care whether it gets counted, or tossed outside in the grass and peed on. I'm voting for the best candidate. Period. Anyone else who might win is a Gomer Pyle in my opinion, and not worth a damn.

If you're writing in Ron Paul, then you aren't voting for the best candidate - since he isn't running. Using your definition, everyone is a candidate for every office...

I'm not sayin' don't do it, just don't call him a "candidate".

This is basically what I was getting at. If Ron Paul was a candidate, I would vote for him.

Most of the time, when people use the phrases "wasted vote" or "will the vote count", what they really mean is they want to vote for the guy who they think will win, or at least has a chance at winning. And I agree with you about that. I tell people all the time they should be voting for the candidate they most agree with, not just one of the "top two".

What I meant was, the election judges really wont count your vote for Ron Paul, because he isn't going to declare himself as a write in candidate. It will be better to vote for one of the candidates who are actually on the ballot.

it says very specifically in that article that there is a write-in vote category. Sure sounds like my vote was counted after all.

Yes, there is a write in category, but in my understanding, only in the sense of "there are number of people that wrote in a different name".

See this page on the MN Secretary of State website: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=898

Candidates for County, State, or Federal Office – A write-in candidate for county, state or federal office must file a written request for his or her votes to be counted with the filing officer for that office. This request must be filed no later than October 30, 2012 (the seventh day before the general election). (Minn. Stat. 204B.09, subd. 3(a)) A candidate for governor must include the name of a candidate for lieutenant governor.

[jgalt]

At this point he sure as hell IS still a candidate. As I type this, he's still in the race for the Republican nomination. And even though it's all but certain and Mitt has even chosen a running mate, anything can happen. So until he's not a candidate, he IS.

Well, obviously... But by the time you'll have the opportunity to write him in, he won't be. Justa sayin'...

And I'm going to vote for him no matter what. Even if it came down to the entire future depending on my vote, and I could elect the President by myself, I'm writing in Ron Paul.

More power to ya'. Though a better protest vote would be Gary Johnson in an effort to give the Libertarian party more clout. I know they're often (more than a bit) kooky, but there's a better chance they'll become a non-kooky, viable 3rd party before the Republican party will "get" the message you'd be sending them by voting for Ron Paul.

[fishdude]

And I'm going to vote for him no matter what. Even if it came down to the entire future depending on my vote, and I could elect the President by myself, I'm writing in Ron Paul.

Same here.

I can respect that. I am hoping something crazy does happen at the RNC, but it seems unlikely.

In my opinion, the "third party cause" is better progressed by having candidates that are actually on the ballot receive a large number of votes, rather than a lot of votes lumped together in the generic/other category.

However, if there were 10-20% of the votes going to that generic category, I suppose that could get some attention.

[TooFewGuns]

Gary Johnson, LP. I did the same last time around for Barr.

[Halfchrome]

Ron Paul has urged his followers to vote for Gary Johnson. I will be.

[Thunder71]

I'm writing in Shippy.

[rugersol]

that's 3 in a row fer osama ... awesome!

[rthib]

Gary Johnson, LP. I did the same last time around for Barr.

President Obama and Attorney General Holder thank you for your continued support.

[Heffay]

Gary Johnson, LP. I did the same last time around for Barr.

President Obama and Attorney General Holder thank you for your continued support.

It's not toofewguns and the other's fault that the GOP couldn't find a decent candidate. Blame the primary system for 4 more years of Obama if you have to blame anyone.

[rugersol]

Gary Johnson, LP. I did the same last time around for Barr.

President Obama and Attorney General Holder thank you for your continued support.

It's not toofewguns and the other's fault that the GOP couldn't find a decent candidate. Blame the primary system for 4 more years of Obama if you have to blame anyone.

Who cares what candidate the GOP came up with?! ... if ya didn't attend the caucuses, and run fer delegate, ya got nothin' to bitch about! ... and if ya did, and lost, ya got nothin' to bitch about!

We're down to simple math!

A vote NOT fer Romney, is a vote fer osama!

Idealistic dribble suits only those who truly don't care, or otherwise prefer osama wins! (looks in Heffay's direction ... )

Where's Nader when ya need him?!

A 3rd party will NEVER be viable in a national election unless ... 1. he's a move/rock star! ... 2. we get run-off elections (hint: neither of the two major parties will EVER allow this!)