According to an Associated Press report, a federal judge sitting in Reno has ruled that the Nevada ballot option to choose “none of these candidates” in certain races is unconstitutional. The ruling means the “none” option will not appear on the November ballot.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert C. Jones held that because “none” could not win an election, the selection disenfranchises voters. (If “none” gets the most votes in any particular contest, the highest vote-getting natural person wins.)
But the real issue here seems to be Republican worries that supporters of Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who have taken over the Clark County Republican Party and the Nevada Republican Party, would use “none of these candidates” to signal their dissatisfaction with presumptive nominee Mitt Romney. Local Republicans have said they will support their party’s nominee, but they’d prefer a candidate with more solid conservative credentials.
Jones is correct in ruling that the practical effect of a vote for “none” is disenfranchisement, inasmuch as a vote cast in an election is not counted toward a meaningful result. But where I think he may have erred is the fact that a voter chooses “none” just as surely as choosing “Obama” or “Romney.” The choosing of an alternative, even the alternative of showing up to the polls only to cast a null vote by design, is nevertheless a choice.
And it’s a much more meaningful choice than, say, staying home and not voting at all. By choosing “none,” a voter is telling the candidates that he or she took the time to register to vote, to come to the polls and to send a message that neither the Democrat nor the Republican (or any of the third party choices) met with their approval. In other words: Get better candidates, and you will get better buy in.
This is nowhere more true than with supporters of Paul. Although he did surprisingly well in collecting delegates, he does not have any chance of winning the nomination. Therefore, Republicans who are inclined toward radically shrinking the federal government (not just budget cuts, but the elimination of entire cabinet departments), of ensuring a solid money supply (starting with a full audit of the Federal Reserve System), ending the war on drugs and increasing personal liberty have few options. They can vote for Romney, knowing he doesn’t share their deeply held beliefs. They can abandon their party of choice and vote for the Libertarian candidate (another legitimate protest vote). They can simply stay home, or skip voting in that race.
Or they could vote for “none.” Or at least they could have, until the Republicans sued in federal court to remove that option.
Secretary of State Ross Miller is appealing the ruling. Said Miller in a statement today:
“We can’t discuss the merits of the ruling, but we’re planning an immediate and expedited appeal to protect the long-standing public interest of the ‘none of these candidates’ option.”
I’m going to take a wild guess… the judge was appointed by a Republican.
Actually its easy to vote none in any race. Simply leave the box or all boxes blank for any race you wish to show your displeasure of candiate choice.
The voting machine wil warn you the ballot is not fully filled out and give you the option of going back or casting the vote as is, with the blanks.
This is a de facto “None of the above” vote.
I know people who cast ballots with no choices selected at all.
I wish the state would tally these ballots, they might be informative.
Yup, Judge Jones appointed by George W. Bush. This is the same fellow who sided with Jim Rhodes in the case involving developing in Red Rock Canyon. He is quite the partisan judge in my opinion. Activist judges like Jones harm public confidence in the legal system.
Lets see, Republicans don’t want it.
Ross Miller, a Democrat, wants to fight for it.
I say it really does not matter because anyone who wants can leave the boxes blank and it has the same effect.
This is a non issue invented issue if I have ever seen a non issue, issue.
What is it, can’t these nimrods find something better to spend our very limited money on?
How about they drop this crap and allocate the money, they would have spent on this TOTAL WASTE of time and effort, on the public schools instead?
Maybe they could save a bunch of teachers and we really do not care about the effin lawyers anyway.
If they were to do that it might convince a few people the pols in this state are serious about education and not just paying lip service to it.
I know Steve, you think there are many politicos that are well worth their weight in feathers (and tar) But this crap makes me think they all deserve both the tar and the feathers.
Talk to the Republican National Committee, Steve. They are the ones who initiated the lawsuit against the state. Secretary Miller and General Masto are simply doing their jobs defending the laws. Personally, I find it hilarious that the Republicans are so afraid of their lackluster candidate losing even a few thousand votes to “none” that they had to go and (literally) make a federal case out of it.
I say this makes all sides look like they need some hot tar and a bunch of feathers.
Meanwhile I will take time to get more pictures of hummingbirds because thats way more important than “none” on the ballot. Specially since I have shown a way to make it happen no matter what they want to waste that money on. Heaven forbid they really mean what they say about education, no matter what aisle they like to sit with.
The Judge was appointed by Bush II. He served along side Sandoval. He went to Brigham Young U as an english major around the same time Mitt Romney did.
Both Judge Jones and Mitt Romney graduated from BYU in 1971 with degrees in English. Jones had a degree in Econ/accounting as well. I wonder if the knew each other? Did the RNC “judge shop” this before filing suit?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young_University_alumni#Federal_Judges
Well,,, the 9th circuit in San Francisco no less, is well known for not liking Republicans. Funny thing is they are also well known for being overturned on appeal! Click my name for proof. Funny, USA Today tried to explain it away but in the end they could not.
Since this stupidity is going “Forward” then lets see how it plays out and how far it goes.
Steve Sebelius, I thought it was stupid in the beginning and I think it is just as stupid, now the other side is fighting “for” the law in Nevada.
Two wrongs do not make a right (or a better word on this blog might be “correct” or “OK”)
Anyone who wants can simply leave that box blank and cast the ballot. The system does not prevent this and “none” is a valid voice. A voice louder than not voting at all.
Whether you mark the box or leave it blank, VOTE! it is the one, and admittedly very small, voice you actually have that directly effects our representative government.
Principle over party, always.
Whatdo Berkley Reid Heller Hack Sandoval think about the ruling? Particularly the Republicans..because it was THEIR PARTY that got rid of the “none” option. Steve should investigate what their views are. Thank you
What do Berkley Reid Heller Hack Sandoval think about the ruling? Particularly the Republicans..because it was THEIR PARTY that got rid of the “none” option. Steve should investigate what their views are. Thank you
I did not know that “nota” is such an organized movement, although small. http://www.nota.org/
So that rat judge (Romney’s classmate) was overturned by the 9th circuit and got his judicial fanny paddled as well. I wonder if the RNC will go to the Supreme Court? In the McCain – Obama race NOTC got 6k, in the Reid-Angle race it got 16k votes. What is the RNC afraid of? They must be polling a close election with Romney losing.
I write this blog not as an apologist for or a critic of any particular political party. I don’t believe that who a person votes for or against should be dictated to them by someone else. A person should vote for the candidate that they believe shares their values and beliefs. We are rapidly approaching the presidential election in November and the political rhetoric has reached a fever pitch. As with past political campaigns, the closer we get to Election Day the meaner the campaign rhetoric becomes as the candidates try to persuade, cajole, matriculate, and just outright lie to get your vote. But this as, after all, the presidential election and anything goes as the two major party candidates vie for this most coveted political office in our nation.
The current president and his administration has been highly criticized for failing to make good on the president’s campaign promises to bring about real change to the government, to revitalize the economy, to create jobs , to strengthen the middle class and create greater opportunity for a better life for all Americans. Of course, whether he failed or succeeded in fulfilling his promises depends upon who you ask. Many Americans are convinced that this election is America’s “last chance” to save itself from complete collapse politically, economically and socially. They accuse the current administration of having brought the nation to the break of destruction on every level. I disagree. No one American president can be blamed for America’s moral, social, political and economic decline. Since his election as president, president Obama has been blamed for every problem in America since its birth as a nation. I cannot think of a president who has been more unjustly disrespected than President Obama. Presidents expect criticism, especially from those in the opposing political party, but there is meanness more vicious tone to the attacks on president Obama. With president Obama it is more than just a disagreement over his politics, the president himself has become the issue.
I am convinced that white evangelicals are obsessed with getting president Obama out of office, they claim that they believe that people should vote their values and conscious, but in reality and in not so subtle ways, it is obvious that they are promoting the conservative republican political agenda. (Vote for the candidate of your choice, as long as it’s with Romney). Recently I heard a prominent T.V. preacher say, and I paraphrase, that America has been in decline since 2008. How smart do you have to be to figure that one out?
As a Christian, what I find disturbing is that so called bible believing, born again Christians are convinced that the solution to America’s problem is a new political savior. They can’t have two saviors, it’s either the Lord Jesus Christ or the next president of the United States, which is it? They should know the Savior has already come and gone and is coming again for all those who love Him and His appearing. When He comes He will make all things new. The kind of change or transformation America and the world needs cannot be bought about by any political leader. We must not forget Psalms 118 8-9 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
Sincerely united with those in Christ Jesus.