(cross-posted at Colorado Pols)
Former Denver City Council member Carla Madison was running unopposed for re-election when she died on April 5 after a two-year battle with cancer. Because ballots for the May 3 Municipal Election had already been printed, any candidate wishing to run for City Council in District 8 could only do so as a write-in candidate.
The deadline to declare yourself as a write-in candidate passed on April 18, and there are 38 candidates who could be elected to the city council as a write-in choice.
As we’ve written before, winning a write-in campaign against someone whose name appears on the ballot is virtually impossible to do on a local level because voters need to be able to do more than just recognize your name — they have to remember it enough to write it down. In a Denver Municipal election where most voters don’t even know who’s running for Mayor, we’re fascinated to see how this will turn out. Candidates have very little time to campaign and get their name out, and while we’ve gotten various press releases touting endorsements, none of that matters unless voters remember how to spell your name. As the Denver Elections Division explains:
Write-in candidates do not appear on the ballot. A write-in candidate’s name must be physically written in (no stamps or stickers) on the “write-in” line for that race on the ballot. Voters must also connect the arrow on the write-in line for the vote to be counted.
We don’t know enough about what other options Denver had for filling the seat in District 8 other than to force a massive write-in election, but obviously this isn’t a great way to choose an elected official. With ballots already in the mail, the eventual winner in District 8 may just be the person who has the most memorable name…period. Just for a moment, ignore any qualifications or endorsements and just look at the list of names below — which “name” do you think voters would be most likely to remember to write down on a ballot?
Our best guess is that Britt Gallagher, whoever that is, has a distinct advantage because he (or she?) has the same last name as long-time Denver politician Dennis Gallagher, whose name will appear on the ballot for re-election as Denver Auditor (was there no-one named Ed Hickenlooper in District 8?) But what say you, Polsters?
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There are 38 write-ins running for the council 8 seat!!! That is ridiculous. Pretty lame mentioning gallagher on the ballot ofr auditor. He is not running unopposed. But unlike the 38 people running for 8 his opponents have scarcely been mentioned since the early days of the campaign. Quiet as it is kept, gallagher is running against Marcus D. RICHardson( 1st on the ballot) and BILL Wells(opponent for 3rd or 4th time).
It asked what names would be easily recognized in the pool of write-in candidates. Gallagher is one such name, given that our current Auditor is named Gallagher.
I believe these names have to be spelled exactly as they registered. Isn’t that correct? Two of the leading candidates, at least in my opinion, are Darrell Watson, who finished second to Carla when she ran and Wil Alston, who is actively involved in the renovation of Five Points. I mention their names not only because they should fare well, but also because of their spelling. Darrell included his middle initial. If names have to be exact, that could kill him. Wil has less control. His name is spelled Wil, rather than Will. Again, could be trouble if indeed you need to have exact spellings…..
When checking the ballots, the Elections Commission considers the voters “intent,” or what they think the voter was trying to do. That’s a big gray area, to be sure, and we could see a lot of legal challenges, but you don’t have to be exact.
For example, if you wrote “Daryl Wattson” on the ballot, that’s probably good enough to get your vote counted. But if you wrote “Darnell Watson” or “Darrell Wilson,” then the question gets a little tougher to answer.
I was actually embarrassed not to have know that. I’m glad that to know that some discretion is allowed…..
re : shadyside
I did reac the article, but I made me point. Which I am entitled to do here in good old America.
I know how politics are played.
On a different note, I’m glad someone clarified the name spelling issue.