The West Virginia Secretary of State’s web page carries the unofficial votes for Governor in the October 4 special election. Here is the link.
So far, the percentages are: Democratic 50.23%, Republican 46.40%, Mountain 1.90%, independent .97%, American Third Position .35%, write-ins .14%. UPDATE: at 11:15 pm, the newer percentages are Democratic 49.37%, Republican 47.17%, Mountain 2.01%, independent .94%, American Third Position .37%, write-in .14%.
The 2011 special election is the fourth gubernatorial election at which the Mountain Party (West Virginia’s Green Party affilate) has participated. The party’s earlier gubernatorial totals have been: 2000 1.61%; 2004 2.48%; 2008 4.44%.
The SOS website automatically updates the numbers, so thats why those numbers are different than the ones Richard has posted. Will you amend the post when the final numbers are out?
*last part of comment addressed to Richard*
You’re right, the numbers keep changing. I will update it again tonight and also Wed. morning. The race is getting closer.
Several counties show more write-in votes than a ballot qualified candidate: Kanawha, Putnam, Tyler, Webster. I suspect most of the 426 write-ins are for Phil Hudok based on his name recognition from running for Congress last year. We’ll see.
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What percentage of the vote is necessary to ensure ballot access in future WV elections? Is it 5? If so, no one (other than the major parties of course) achieved that mark.
One more minority rule winner ???
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
It’s one (1) percent for general elections only. When the Republicans compromised with the Democrats this winter on haggled dates for the primary and general elections for this, the Repubs just accepted the Dems’ legislation text (probably without reading it in consideration of minor parties). What got passed was a bill that had a sneaky clause buried in it which specifically excluded this special election from qualifying a new party.
Non-establishment gubernatorial votes in WV over the past ten years:
2000: 17299 2.68% (Mtn. Party, Libertarian, Nat. Law)
2004: 18544 2.50% (Mountain & write-in Libertarian)
2008: 31737 4.49% (Mtn, write-in CP, weak Republican)
2011: 10523 3.46% (Mtn, Ind, A3p, write-in CP)
The Mountain Party is a pretty solid 2% (1.61% -2000, 2.48% -2004, 4.46% -2008, 2.01% -2011). So in lieu of new voters entering our ranks, or a drastic change in political philosophy, the remaining 1.5% of the protest vote pie can only be sliced to qualify ONE more party.
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