MN Voter's Intent

[lsanderson]

2008 Minnesota Statutes

One I'd have probably gotten wrong:

Subd. 4.Name written in proper place.

If a voter has written the name of an individual in the proper place on a general or special election ballot a vote shall be counted for that individual whether or not the voter makes a mark (X) in the square opposite the blank.

Ittsa clear vote for Lizard People!

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

That says the mark in the circle is optional, but it doesn't address what happens when he marks *another* circle in that race. I think this makes that clearly a spoiled ballot, like marking two circles (both fully).

Correct!

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Idda given the vote to Weasel Norm because they didn't fill in the oval (as would the tabulator).

Re: Correct!

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

The tabulator clearly is much more simple-minded than the rules (hard to avoid, other than by having stupidly simple-minded rules). Before seeing the rule you cited I would have gone with the clear-cut oval being marked; a reasonable theory is that he started the write-in and then changed his mind by committing to it by filling in the oval, and voted for WN.

This is where touch-screen voting that produces a printed ballot looks good -- the ballots will always be perfect and pristine. Er, except that does mean we would have absolutely no clues about the voter's intent. And no formal record of any interaction problems the voters may have had with the touch-screen system.

As I said elsewhere, these examples of confusing ballots confirm my policy of making sure my own is *perfect* before I submit it. I don't want them to have a chance to invalidate my vote! (Obviously I can't guarantee perfection, but I can commit to never turning in a ballot that has any problems I have *noticed*.)

Re: Correct!

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Si! It's a Franken ballot. Dang.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I think it would be awesome if Lizard People won the race.

Barring that, a Franken victory would be good.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but does that part of the statute trump the part about filling in the oval?

K.

Si!

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Although I'm not a lawyer. If it counts without the oval filled, it makes it an overvote.

[eatsoylentgreen.livejournal.com]

you know, those Lizard People have some good ideas, if they could only get a break.

We need instant runoff voting!