Let’s say you’re part of a small but energetic movement. What’s the best way to gain new adherents and political credibility?
If you said, “divide in two,” DING DING DING.
We now have not one, but TWO faux-populist write-in campaigns for Governor.
The first is Annette Smith’s Gathering Of The Aggrieved, her write-in candidacy opposing wind power, the F-35s at Burlington Airport, “forced vaccinations,” EPA-mandated treatment of public drinking water, smart meters, “the school lunch program,” and, eh, whatever else ya got.
Now we have an anonymous drive encouraging voters to write in Peter Shumlin for Governor and Bernie Sanders for Senate. A few road signs have been spotted in Montpelier and Burlington, simply urging write-ins for Shumlin and Sanders without specifying why. Well, today I saw a flyer in downtown Montpelier that sheds more light on the mystery. The flyer reads as follows:
Write-in
Peter Shumlin
Peter – Listen to us! No Ridge-Line Wind/NO F-35
I guess this is an appeal to those who are upset with Shumlin’s positions, but not quite upset enough to abandon his candidacy. Now there’s a fine distinction in keeping with the left’s long history of nitpicky sectarianism.
The flyer includes no contact info or other identifiers (which might be a violation of election law, if this were significant enough to warrant attention). Hand-written and then photocopied. Possibly coming soon to a billboard near you!
p.s. Yesterday, the Freeploid’s Terri Hallenbeck wrote a vtBuzz item about these signs, wondering why they were being posted. If the ‘Loid writes a follow-up, I do hope they credit GMD for the scoop. Like they usually don’t.
A few road signs have been spotted in Montpelier and Burlington…
“I do hope they credit GMD for the scoop.”
A scoop?
If that’s a scoop, so’s yer poop.
I’m not sure what this strategy is intended to do, other than annoy the folks counting the ballots and slow down the results on election night.
Write-in votes for someone on the ballot will usually not be broken out (relevant source for all quotes below: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/sta… ).
Nor will “No F35” or any other notations be tablulated at all:
If identifying information is included, the whole ballot will be thrown out.
Is this just lack of understanding? A misguided strategy that targets election officials rather than the policy makers? (Hint: it’s not going to win any friends.) Will we be subjected to demands for a recount to tally the invalid write-in votes?
I’m just puzzled. This seems to fail any test of a viable way to influence decision-making.
In reality, most of the down-ticket Democratic candidates are far more acceptable to the progressive community than is Shumlin. Why would they be interested in registering a “protest vote” favoring only Shumlin and Bernie (whom, I would guess, is just thrown in there for cover)?
I suspect this may be another one of the Republican dirty trick attempts that have marred even their own primary in Franklin County.
…Has the same old stink to it.
BEWARE… big time!
Since write ins are spit out by the voting tabulators as uncountable
they create confusion, more human counting, delays
A certain amount of voters might be tempted/misguided to write in Shumlin and Sanders instead of just filling in the regular circle to vote for them.
Human nature in all it’s colors comes out in the nitty gritty of the democratic voting process. Pushing the envelope is part of reality.
Deception is fair if it wins election.
Thanks jvwalt for relentlessly pointing this out.
You do a great job!
Fish. Smelly.