Very tiny ray of sunshine in CT Senate race

[MANative]

Just received and completed my absentee ballot for CT races. Lieberman will be very unhappy about where his name appears - at the bottom of the ballot along with the other fringe parties. People will really have to search for his name to find it. Maybe some will get annoyed/bored/tired and cast a vote for Ned instead....:evilgrin:

[Tiggeroshii]

1. Well...

They were all mixed up on my absentee ballot. I actually had to do quite a bit of searching just to find Angelides's name.Of ocurse, I'm in Califoria.

[MANative]

3. In CT, they list the office across the top

and the Party down the side, like a grid. Best positions would be near the top, so they can be found quickly. What was interesting is that Lieberman was listed below the Greens, Libertarians, etc. Almost the last line on the sheet - an afterthought, as I hope he will be on 11/8!

edited for typo

[Autumn Colors]

16. You mean on the mechanical lever machines, right?

As far as I know we (at least in Monroe) are getting optical scan ballots for the first time this year. :scared:

[MANative]

18. On lever machines and on the

paper absentee ballot. No optical scans for Danbury this year AFAIK.

[central scrutinizer]

2. In my state, Oregon, the names are randomized

to avoid the charge that those with last names in the beginning of the alphabet are favored.

[MANative]

4. Certainly sounds more equitable

but could also be confusing if you weren't expecting it to be that way. For something like that, do they publish a sample first so that people can review/study it?

[BrotherBuzz]

5. California places party candidate order by a drawing.

My sample ballot for the Governors race places Peace and Freedom, Green, and American Independent ahead of Democrats and republicans, with Libertarians at the bottom. Lt Gov race places republicans first, Democrats last, and so on, just the luck of the draw. It may even be determined at the county level so there might be areas in your state where Lieberman is listed first.

[Alexander]

7. Connecticut doesn't have county government.

It's the only state that doesn't. There's state and "municipal" (town-by-town). No county. No sheriff, either.

[LynzM]

10. I didn't realize that we were the *only* state without it!

You learn something every day. Thanks, Alexander!

[MANative]

13. Ditto what Lynz said. I never realized we were unique in that!

Who knew?! You! :)

[BrotherBuzz]

14. I understand what you are saying but....

is the state divided up someway? The "municipalities" all have different ballots, no?

Oh, fwiw, Louisiana doesn't have counties either; instead, it's divided into parishes.

[MANative]

17. We technically do have counties, but no county

governments. If I recall correctly, the order of the party listing is consistent across the state. I think I read something about that in one of the local papers as well - just can't remember which one (I read about 4) Not 100% sure, but call it about 92%. Any CT ballot experts out there?

[calico1]

22. Well, we have 5 different state districts

(for our 5 reps). So everyone has the same choice for Gov. and Senator but then every district will have the choices for their specific discrict for State Representative. Then some local offices like State senate, etc. And some places will have ballot measures, others won't. So it also differs that way. But across the top it will be the same. I am pretty sure it is Gov. first and then Senate, and then whatever your local district, then by your city or town.

[karlrschneider]

24. Alaska doesn't have them either...not even counties, actually.

:D

[cascadiance]

12. Yeah, just got my absentee ballot for California...

Debra Bowen is listed last for Secretary of State too. That is one race we HAVE to have in November here, if we want to have this race be the last with the plague of the messed up voting machines!

One question I have though. I just see a note that if you have any other marks besides the marks for your votes that are "distinguishing marks" that they might invalidate your ballot.

What if you do the earlier strategy we had talked about here doing which was to vote for "Paper Ballots Only" as a write-in for unopposed races, I would hope that they wouldn't use that as an excuse to disqualify your ballot for it being a "distinguishing mark". Anyone have any word on whether they could nail you for this?

I'd like to put in my opinion there, but it won't get counted anyway, since they only count votes for "registered" write-in candidates anyway. And I certainly don't want to jeopardize my votes not getting counted just to vote a "protest" vote that might not get noticed anyway.

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Interesting, Debra Bowen is listed first on my ballot.

You get no argument from me when you state "That is one race we HAVE to have in November". :thumbsup:

[RB TexLa]

6. That is why the party was made up, it's higher than if he had run

as an individual without a party nomination.

[MANative]

9. From what I saw, that's correct

There was only one name below his, IIRC, and it was just listed as Independent.

[robbedvoter]

8. I think they are randomized in NY as well - are you sure that

your ballot is representative of all ballots?

[MANative]

11. I believe it is.

I've lived in 3 different cities and 2 counties, and my recollection is that it was done that way in every instance - grid with Office across top and parties down the side. I couldn't swear that the party order was identical every time, but I think it was quite consistent.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

19. LIEberman will be 5th or 8th on ballot depending on town you vote in

This 'splains how it is determined

http://www.sots.ct.gov/releases/2006/9-15-06BallotPlacement.pdf

[MANative]

20. Thank you! That 'splains it very nicely indeed

:)

[NewJeffCT]

21. A write-in won in Waterbury (CT) last year

So, I'm not very confident that ballot position is all that important.

[JerseygirlCT]

23. Yes, and is a Lieberman supporter... nt

[MANative]

25. I'll concede that I'm grasping at straws here, but

I'm looking for any advantage that I can find. It may not hurt, but I'm praying that it won't help! :)