Federal Election Commission Compiles Presidential Vote

The Federal Election Commission has compiled the presidential vote. See it here. Later the FEC will also publish the congressional vote and will publish it in a book. It will be titled “2024 Elections”.

Not all states reveal the number of scattering write-in votes for president, but most of them do. The FEC calculates 210,381 write-in votes for president that will never be credited to any candidate, unless someone examines the official canvass prepared by each county. Sometimes the counties reveal who received scattered write-in votes, and some don’t.

The FEC does not include the write-in results from the District of Columbia that were discovered by a private individual, because his totals aren’t from an “official” source. Thanks to Tony Roza for the link.

U.S. Supreme Court Wants a Response in New York Ballot Access Case

On January 16, the U.S. Supreme Court asked for a response in Meadors v Erie County Board of Elections, 24-684. This is the challenge to the May petition deadline in New York for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. The Court asked for a response just two days after the defendant had said it didn’t plan to respond.

This is the second case related to minor parties and independent candidates in which the Court has asked for a response. The other, ironically, is also from New York, and concerns a discriminatory campaign finance law, which lets individuals give more to Democratic and Republican candidates than other candidates.

Three Independent Candidates Polled Over 40% of Vote for Utah Legislature

At the November 2024 election, three independent candidates polled over 40% of the vote for Utah legislature. No one other than Republican or Democratic nominees has been elected to the Utah legislature since 1956.

In the State Senate election for district 16, in Salt Lake County, Monnica Manuel polled 42.53% against a Republican.

In the State House election for district 3, in Cache County, Patrick Belmont polled 45.98% against a Republican.

In the State House election for district 39, in Salt Lake County, Jessica Wignall polled 44.70% against a Republican.

There had been a strong campaign to elect an independent to the Utah legislature in 2024. See this story.

In 1956, independent legislative candidate Clarence Albrecht had been elected to the State House.