Phoenix New Times Wonders if Arizona Green Party Legislative Candidate got a Boost from His Name

Posted on by November 27, 2012
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The Phoenix New Times has this article about the results of the November 2012 election for Arizona State House, 16th district. The district covers Mesa and Apache Junction. Each Arizona House district elects two representatives. The returns are: Doug Coleman (Republican) 41,063; Kelly Townsend (Republican) 40,720; Matthew Cerra (Democrat) 24,942; Bill Maher (Green) 9,094.

The reporter speculates on whether Bill Maher got a relatively big vote because voters confused him with the famous comedian and movie-maker Bill Maher. However, the real reason the Green Party candidate got so many votes is that the Democrats only ran one nominee in this district, although they were free to have run two.

Michigan Releases Write-in Totals

Posted on by November 26, 2012
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On November 26, the Michigan Secretary of State released official election results, including write-in totals for President. Gary Johnson was credited with 7,774 write-ins, the highest number of write-ins ever recorded in Michigan for a presidential candidate in November. The previous record had been Ralph Nader in 1996, who was credited with 2,322 in Michigan.

Michigan did not permit write-ins for president in the general election until 1964, when the Prohibition Party won a lawsuit in the State Supreme Court on that subject.

The other write-ins presidential candidates in Michigan received this number of write-ins: Stewart Alexander, Socialist, 89; Jerry White, Socialist Equality, 68; Tom Hoefling, American’s Independent Party, 42. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this information.

Illinois Governor Will Ask Legislature to Amend Law so that Special U.S. House Election can be in April Instead of March

Posted on by November 26, 2012
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According to this story, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will ask the legislature to quickly pass a bill, making it legal for him to call a special election to fill the U.S. House seat, 2nd district, in April, instead of in March. The 2nd district mostly in Chicago, but is also in some counties adjoining Cook County that have April elections already scheduled. Current law requires the special election to be no later than March.

The current legislative session reconvenes November 27 anyway for a veto session, lasting over a week. The rules permit a new bill to be introduced and passed in that veto session. The legislators elected in 2010, not the ones elected in 2012, will be the ones meeting this month and next month.

Indiana Finishes Counting Write-in Votes, but Totals are Flawed; State Says it is Too Late to Complain

Posted on by November 26, 2012
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The Indiana Secretary of State’s office has this official vote for President, including write-in totals. However, Jay Parks of the Indiana Green Party has obtained the county-by-county breakdown, and he finds that Marion County, which is easily the most populous county in the state, only reported 2 write-ins. Vigo County, which has Terre Haute, reported zero write-ins. Parks knows of voters in those two counties who voted for Jill Stein but their votes have not been counted.

In response, the state says anyone with any complaints should have complained earlier, and it is now too late to look into the problem. Thanks to Jay Parks for the link and for the information about the problems with the tally.