How Do You Spell Lisa Murkowski? ‘Write-In’ Votes Lead In Alaska

by Glynnis MacNicol | 10:04 am, November 3rd, 2010

» 18 comments

Alaska’s polls were the last to close in the nation last night (or today, depending where you are), but it may be a while before we know who snagged the hotly-contested Senate seat there. Reports this morning indicate that “Write-in Votes” was leading the results with nearly 40 percent of the vote. From the NYT:

The margin inched up throughout the night. With about 70 percent of precincts reporting, Ms. Murkowski, a Republican who was defeated in her party’s primary but returned to the race as a well-financed write-in candidate, led Joe Miller, the Republican nominee. Ms. Murkowski had roughly 39 percent of the vote, to Mr. Miller’s 35 percent. Scott McAdams, a Democrat, had 24 percent of the vote.

Here’s where it may get tricky. The presumption is that “write-in votes” mean Lisa Murkowski. However, the write-in’s have yet to be counted, and state election official will only begin the count once absentee and questioned ballots are in. Meanwhile, there is no guarantee that it is Murkowski’s name on all those write-ins. From the Independent:

After the courts in Alaska ruled last week that election workers could hand voters a list showing the names of write-in candidates as they enter the voting booths, Miller supporters rushed to register themselves as last-minute runners just to dilute whatever advantage the lists might give to Ms Murkowski. Suddenly there were well over 150 write-in candidates in the race.

While we await the final count here’s the short version: Joe Miller was probably not the change Alaska was looking for, and it’s going to be a long few weeks for state election officials.

Alaska, Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski, Midterms 2010, Sarah Palin

Orion Antares

While the lower 48 has their “referendum” on Obama, Alaska is having its “referendum” on Palin’s influence.
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VRWC Destruction Machine

Glynnis MacNicol wrote:
Joe Miller was probably not the change Alaska was looking for.

In the primaries, voters didn’t want a dynasty so they voted Murkowski out since she was appointed to succeed her father. When she lost her Senatorial primary, she sounded like the office was her God given right.

Glynnis MacNicol wrote:
Ms. Murkowski had roughly 39 percent of the vote, to Mr. Miller’s 35 percent.

You wrote it will take several weeks to tally up the write-ins. It’s impossible to make that determination over a few hours.

I heard a reporter say each write-in ballot will be examined closely to determine the intent of voter. I heard conflicting accounts saying the name must be written must be exact in every way. I wonder what Alaska election law is on write in candidates. In the case of Lisa Mukowski, did she use Lisa Murkowski (her maiden name), Lisa Ann Mukowski (with her middle name) or Lisa Murkowski Martell (her married name) during the primaries. I detect a hanging chad moment. It’s coincidental her mother’s maiden name is Gore.
Orion Antares

Election law is based on “voter intent” and having the name “close enough” to a registered candidate give them the vote. That is why a Miller supporting radio talk show host encouraged people with names that could be anywhere close to the same as Lisa or Murkowski to go to the elections office and register as a write-in. Of course none of the 160 idiots that followed his “advice” actually had names that sounded close to Murkowski’s.
TeaPartyPatriot

“How Do You Spell Lisa Murkowski? ”

Here’s how:

SORE LOSER
RULING CLASS MAMA
ESTABLISHMENT FLUNKY
SCOTT MCADAMS
EARMARK QUEEN
DADDY, HELP ME AGAIN
RINO
ARLAN SPECTER
TRAITOR
CHARLIE CRIST
D-CRAT-LITE
LINDSEY GRAHAM
SHAFT REAL REPUBLICANS
NO TEA FOR ME
PORK IS GOOD
DaTruth

Onion Antarbabies said:
While the lower 48 has their “referendum” on Obama, Alaska is having its “referendum” on Palin’s influence.

Palin’s influence, eh? Ok, let’s go a CBS News for analysis:

(CBS News) Most of the candidates Sarah Palin endorsed chalked up victories Tuesday.

And that scorecard leaves pundits wondering whether she’ll now train her sights directly on the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

As CBS News Correspondent Jeff Glor reports, .the former GOP vice presidential nominee backed 43 candidates for the House. Thirty of them won, with races involving nine others still undecided.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

Her record in Senate races was closer: She endorsed 12 candidates. Seven won.

Though it’s been 15 months since Palin stepped down as Alaska governor, she was very much in this election, stumping for candidates across the country, skewering President Obama at every turn.

So much for that meme, Onion. Next?
TfT

The Murkowski (her father) appointed judge was the one who overruled long held election law that states you cannot provide voters the written names of individuals for write-ins. It was my understanding that the name must be THE NAME, not the INTENT, and now it seems these judges(?) may be playing with that rule as well.

I agree with the list provided above by Tea Party Patriot.
Orion Antares

TfT said:
The Murkowski (her father) appointed judge was the one who overruled long held election law that states you cannot provide voters the written names of individuals for write-ins. It was my understanding that the name must be THE NAME, not the INTENT, and now it seems these judges(?) may be playing with that rule as well.

I agree with the list provided above by Tea Party Patriot.

You can mis”understand” all you want.

The judge approved allowing election officials to provide a write-in list ONLY if requested by the voter because it falls under the REQUIREMENT for election officials to provide assistance to any voters who request assistance.

And the law is based on BOTH the name and intent. If the name is close enough to a registered write-in candidate then that is considered intent. Marking write-in and writing nothing would NOT be considered intent for a certain candidate and neither would something like “None of the above”.
TfT

Well, thank you for your clarification. I didn’t realize that “help” meant telling voters who was running for what and so forth – but hey. I don’t think they allowed Democrat or Republican information to be passed out for clarification, if requested.

I’m glad to know that it is based on BOTH. So, does that mean if Joe Miller got write ins they will count for him, when clearly it was the intent of the voter to vote for Miller? I read that the answer to that is NO.
Some_Dude

What a disgusting way to make a mockery of democracy, rushing in to dilute the write-in list like that.
Orion Antares

TfT said:
Well, thank you for your clarification. I didn’t realize that “help” meant telling voters who was running for what and so forth – but hey. I don’t think they allowed Democrat or Republican information to be passed out for clarification, if requested.

I’m glad to know that it is based on BOTH. So, does that mean if Joe Miller got write ins they will count for him, when clearly it was the intent of the voter to vote for Miller? I read that the answer to that is NO.

It’s not “telling” them it’s handing them a sheet of paper that is also available on the election’s department web site. It’s not partisan information, it’s public election’s department information.

If enough “Joe Miller” write-ins observed during the hand count and they don’t count them I’m sure he’ll challenge it and win. The law states that writing in a candidate also listed on the ballot doesn’t automatically disqualify them but that same law also gives the elections administrator discretion to expedite the counting process relating to write-ins. It also gives discretion on determining if in that specific case such a ballot was intentionally marked that way for the purpose of identification the ballot or the voter that cast the ballot. Basically if you want to guarantee your vote is counted, don’t use the write-in section for a candidate already printed on the ballot.

DON’T GAMBLE WITH YOUR VOTE!
Bill Mahwer

Write in candidates usually don’t win and this doesn’t sound like it should be one of the first.

The Republicans have to make sure no SEIU members get to look at the ballot boxes when they are in storage.
Bill Mahwer

Orion Antares said:
Election law is based on “voter intent” and having the name “close enough” to a registered candidate give them the vote. That is why a Miller supporting radio talk show host encouraged people with names that could be anywhere close to the same as Lisa or Murkowski to go to the elections office and register as a write-in. Of course none of the 160 idiots that followed his “advice” actually had names that sounded close to Murkowski’s.

Not sure……..Lisa M. Lackey might confuse some of the stoned voters
SarahP

Another one in the minus column for Sarah Palin.
VRWC Destruction Machine

SarahP said:
Another one in the minus column for Sarah Palin.

Obama got big fat ZERO.
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Bill Mahwer

Some_Dude said:
What a disgusting way to make a mockery of democracy, rushing in to dilute the write-in list like that.

What’s even worse is how she got the rule of a voter not being able to see who the write in candidates are at the poll overturned by a judge who was appointed by her daddy.
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