Read directions
You do it when you take cold medicine, you do it when you set up the family VCR, and you even do it when you use the self-serve pump at the gas station. Is it too much to ask that you READ THE DIRECTIONS when you go to exercise your right to vote?
What is Scoop ranting about?
North Carolina ballots give voters the option of voting for all Democrats or all Republicans or all Libertarians to save voters the time and fuss of thinking for themselves and choosing candidates one by one.
But punching the straight party button (or pulling the lever, or doing whatever it is your local county does to record votes) does not cast a vote for President of the United States, nor does it cast votes for the nonpartisan judicial or school board races. And a straight party vote doesn't cast a vote in referenda for bonds and constitutional amendments.
There are clear instructions to this effect at the top of the ballot. But apparently voters are a busy lot and some of them just don't have time to spend the extra 20 seconds to process this information. They do, however, have the time to complain vociferously after realizing they've screwed up.
Election officials and government wonks call the difference between the total number of people who cast ballots and the number of people who cast ballots in presidential election an under-vote. In fact, our faith in voters' ability to screw up (or just not care) is so great, that an under-vote that is too small is considered suspicious.
But if, by chance, you're bound and determined to fully exercise your franchise, we'll spell it out for you: if you mark the box for a straight party ticket you have not voted for president, judgeships, school board or any referenda. You need to mark the boxes for those races separately before recording your ballot.
Ask your friendly local poll worker if you have a question about all this when you go to vote.
Comments (3)
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Oh, so, like we're expected to KNOW what we're doing when we vote? And, um, we should have THOUGHT it through and prepared?
Hey, it's my RIGHT to vote and if I want to do it like a slack-a** numbskull, by golly, that's MY RIGHT!
Posted on October 22, 2004 8:02 PM
Mark,
Can you clarify: Even if a person hits the straight party ticket at the top of the ballot, they can still pick and chose individual candidates down the ballot if they so desire. For example: Someone could chose the all Democrat lever/button but still go down and pick out two or three Libertarian candidates they really like while they scroll down to the Judges etc. (For district 7 voters I highly recommend page 3 of 8 just above the words, "Previous Page.")
--- Just like DVD's have saved us from our VCR's, those who don't like or can't understand voting instructions can always wait around for a new government to show up that makes things easier for everyone.
Posted on October 23, 2004 7:14 PM
I think you just clarified, Jim, thanks. Of course, one might think if a voter were truly engaged in the process they might give every position on the ballot of quick glance or two...but that's just crazy talk, I know.
Posted on October 24, 2004 12:34 PM