Ben Manski has this interesting op-ed in the Cap Times of Madison, Wisconsin. He was the Green Party nominee for Assembly in the 77th district. He points out that when one only looks at the ballots of voters who did not use the straight-ticket device, he got more votes than any of his opponents. But he still lost, when the votes of people who did use the straight-ticket device are included.
I have always said people who vote a “straight ticket” regardless of party are some of the most irresponsible voters in the country. If we could get voters “de-programmed” from voting “straight tickets” we just might start seeing some qualified and responsible independent and 3rd party candidates winning.
Doesn’t Wisconsin permit votes on individual races to be overridden. I would bet many folks didn’t vote “Democratic” but voted for the Democratic candidate, and many who voted for “Democratic” but voted for him.
Since he claims that NO straight party voters voted for him, it must not have been possible to vote a Green Party straight ticket.
Re: “I would bet many folks didn’t vote “Democratic” but voted for the Democratic candidate.”
Answer: Yes, the majority of my opponent’s votes were not straight party votes. We’re not claiming that ALL of his votes were straight party votes. Our analysis shows that, without the straight party mechanism, he would secured many fewer votes — as many as 7% less than I did.
Re: “Since he claims that NO straight party voters voted for him, it must not have been possible to vote a Green Party straight ticket.”
Answer: It was possible, but only 17 people did it. Greens never vote straight party in Wisconsin, because we never contest every election — Green voters usually vote “split ticket” (I’ve voted for candidates from four parties at once, for example). This said, yes, we did deduct those straight party votes from my total in conducting our analysis.
#3 How do you separate the voters who despite voting a Democratic straight ticket also voted for you?