My Favorite Franken Ballot

by: Matt Stoller

Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 10:46

This ballot was challenged by Norm Coleman because the voter wrote in 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' for another office. You can find background on Flying Spaghetti Monster here, but it's actually a strong political statement against creationism and not a joke. Coleman's people apparently thought that writing in something that sounded like a joke on any part of the ballot disqualified the vote, so they challenged it. The challenge was rejected, and it's now in Franken's pile.

If Franken wins, I like that this is one of the ballots that will put him over the top.

... You can watch the ballot counting at The Uptake. They rock.

Matt Stoller :: My Favorite Franken Ballot

Tags: Norm Coleman, Minnesota, Al Franken, (All Tags)

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My Favorite Franken Ballot | 16 comments

Pretty good, but (4.00 / 2)

It's no Lizard People.

http://media.npr.org/news/imag...

by: TravisDisaster @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:00:44 PM UTC

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Lizard People (4.00 / 2)

are probably touched by the Flying Spaghetti Monster's noodly appendages.

Seriously, this ballot count is great for continuous humor.

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority." -William Jennings Bryan

by: circlesnshadows @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:13:59 PM UTC

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finally! (0.00 / 0)

someone explains wtf people were talking about!
i've been missing out on weeks of comedy gold!

by: dr anonymous @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:15:56 PM UTC

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okay i don't understand (0.00 / 0)

why the lizard people voter decided to vote on the referendum yes or no, rather than voting lizard people. or do you think they took into account what would be in the best interests of the lizard people in terms of clear water policy?

by: dr anonymous @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:25:44 PM UTC

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Sleestaks are very eco-friendly (0.00 / 0)

I mean, how much more green can you get?

by: TravisDisaster @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:28:30 PM UTC

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Ramen! (0.00 / 0)

by: wobbly @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:04:26 PM UTC

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Let us Praise His Noodly Goodness (4.00 / 2)

And let us say:
Ramen.

by: msaroff @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:20:25 PM UTC

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Ravioliutionary! (0.00 / 0)

~* the * Will * to go on *~

by: ObscureName @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:32:43 PM UTC

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538 has a ballot comparison up (4.00 / 2)

Someone wrote in Brett Favre and also filled in Coleman's circle - this counted for Coleman. However, the Lizard People guy/gal did the same thing on behalf of Franken but the ballot wasn't counted.

Now, I'm a big fan of Brett Favre, but it's a little surprising how inconsistently the Canvassing Board acted in those examples.

by: rfahey22 @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:33:58 PM UTC

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the Lizard People ballot should have been counted (0.00 / 0)

The voter did not fill in the circle next to Lizard People on the Senate line, but did fill in the circle next to Lizard People for another office. Clearly that vote was intended for Franken.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

by: desmoinesdem @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:55:59 PM UTC

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The Favre vote (0.00 / 0)

Wasn't that only written in under the presidential ballot? The picture posted on 538 doesn't show a Favre write-in for the Senate race, but maybe it's just an incomplete image.

by: Haggai @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 17:20:31 PM UTC

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Good point (0.00 / 0)

I didn't take the ballot layout into consideration.

by: rfahey22 @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 19:22:51 PM UTC

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No the Board has been (0.00 / 0)

consistent on this. Writing a name even if the circle is not filled in is considered a vote. So lizard people was clearly a double vote by their interpretation of the statute.

The Uptake does indeed rock

by: Judeling @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 19:01:26 PM UTC

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in the UK there's a long tradition (0.00 / 0)

of people picking a crazy name, or a crazy party, and running for parliament in the same district as some prominent politician.

The way they announce the votes, all the candidates for each seat are on stage together at the same time, so you'll have some government minister standing with the major-party opponents and then "Lord Buckethead" (who literally would wear a bucket over his head) or "Screaming Lord Such" who was a perennial candidate for the Monster Raving Loony Party. People loved seeing that guy in every election. Sadly, he died a few years ago.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

by: desmoinesdem @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 16:54:51 PM UTC

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Thanks Matt! (0.00 / 0)

It's crazy over here, thanks for watching and linking!

Love the FSM and Lizard People... will have video of the who scene soon.

-jason The UpTake

by: JasonB @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 19:26:02 PM UTC

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VIDEO (0.00 / 0)