Swamping Murkowski

Politico ^ | 10/29/10 | Ben Smith

[freespirited]

 

The latest from Alaska's procedural wars:

Just hours before the final deadline, more than 100 Alaskans came out Thursday to file as write-in candidates in an effort to thwart Sen. Lisa Murkowski's bid to retain her Senate seat.

At the urging of a local talk radio host, scores of people signed up to be write-in candidates with the Alaska Division of Elections before registration closed....

Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai confirmed that at least 100 people filed as write-in candidates. Fenumiai said early Friday morning that she could not give a specific number yet of how many candidates signed up with a name similar to "Lisa Murkowski" because she had not seen all of their names yet.

Dan Fagan, who hosts a popular conservative radio talk show in Anchorage, said that after one listener called in to say he was registering as a write-in candidate, he encouraged others to do the same.

UPDATE: The current list of candidates is here and there are three other Lisas listed, including a Lisa M.

[freespirited]

Two of the three Lisas were denied ("received too late") but one did make it.

[al_again2010]

I am disappointed that it was only 100. It would have been great if it would have been 1000+.

[FormerACLUmember]

God, that is funny.

CURSE THAT DARNED FIRST AMENDMENT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH THING!

[Jackson57]

Well at least now it’ll be harder to count every crayon mark on a ballot as a vote for the Princess. With the way it is going I’m surprised the Alaska Supreme Court hasn’t ruled that any vote for ANY candidate with an M in his or her name is automatically a vote for her.

[BigEdLB]

They should find a Linda Murkowski, a Alisha Murkowsky, anything Close... LOL... Dang this is diabolical... With a mind to think this up the Miller team will be dynamos in the Senate

[AU72]

I am Murkowski, no I am Murkowski.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Please explain how this makes a difference to Lisa Murkowski. Are these candidates listed somewhere for the voter to pick?

[fwdude]

Let’s hope there were some more “murkowski’s” signing up as write-ins, just to “murk” up the waters a little more.

[Bigh4u2]

Ok. I’m confused about how this is going to help.

Isn’t Lisa Murkowski a ‘write in’ candidate?

Her name won’t be listed on the ballot, so having 100 Lisa’s wouldn’t make any difference. Especially if people don’t know who the other “Lisa’s” are.

[itsahoot]

Actually I think a court ruled yesterday that supporters could hand out a paper with her name on it, outside the polling places. Everything on the up and up there, and the RNC is hedging their bets, being the worthless wuss’s they are.

[NEMDF]

I think that votes for her will only count if her name is spelled 100% correctly, so adding more possible names might work to her detriment. But I could be wrong on this....

[CIB-173RDABN]

I think I read that the spelling on the write must be correct or it does not count. However with only one write in candidate it is possible they would have been able to challenge and claim any write in was meant for her.

However, with a 100 or more write in candidate it muddies the water and make a challenge less likely to be successful, or at least that is how I am understanding this.

Perhaps a freeper in Alaska could provide more details

[moodyskeptic]

Yes these are INTERESTING TIMES.

[BigEdLB]

The List


United States Senator
* Michael Ames (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Daryl D. Anderson (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Tigran A. "Tig" Andrew (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Susan J. Apling-Gilman (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* David J. Arduser (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - did not meet age requirement
* Kevin Austin (Republican) - Write-in
* Lawrence W. "Larry" Austin (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Carita Backman (Republican) - Write-in
* Keith Barkwood (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Michelle A. Barnes (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Thomas Baxter (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* David E. Beeman (Republican) - Write-in
* Vicky L. Beeman (Republican) - Write-in
* LaVonne Boyd (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* David Boyle (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Red K. Bradley (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Richard O. Braun (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* William P. "Bill" Brownfield (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Ken Bullard (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Linda Bullard (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Richard O. Burns (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Michael Butler (Republican) - Write-in
* Vern Carlson (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Tim Carter (Non-Affiliated) Nominating Petition Candidate

PO Box 435

Girdwood, AK 99587

Phone: (907) 947-9911

e-mail: tcarter1940@yahoo.com

Candidate's web site: http://www.carterforsenate.org
* Curtis G. Champagne (Republican) - Write-in
* Elizabeth A. Cherry (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* John P. Collinge (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Fred W. "Bill" Colson (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Gary C.L. Cox (Republican) - Write-in
* DaRae K. Crews (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Margaret A. "Maggie" Crowell (Republican) - Write-in
* Lisa L. Crusberg (Rrepublican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Guy A. Cummins (Democrat) - Write-in
* Dana Davis (Republican) - Write-in
* John Davis (AK Independence) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Karen S. Deardorff (Republican) - Write-in
* Stephanie DeVault (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Tyran J. "Ty" DeVault (Republican) - Write-in
* Chris S. Dillingham (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Erma C. Doggett (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Gale J. Doggett (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Donald S. Dorsey (Republican) - Write-in
* Allison K. Drake (Republican) - Write-in
* James P. Duffield II (Republican) - Write-in
* Michael J. "Mike" Dunton (Republican) - Write-in
* Erica L. Dvorak (Republican) - Write-in
* Linda Eason (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Paulette K. Egger (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Roger S. Egger (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Christopher G. Erickson (Republican) - Write-in
* Joe P. Erickson (Republican) - Write-in
* Gregory T. "Gerkie" Erkins (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Randy Estes (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Daniel Ezell (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Shannon R. Fechtner (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Robert A. Flynn (Republican) - Write-in
* David Martin Fogler (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Merle R. Frank (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Eric L. Franklin (Republican) - Write-in
* John E. Francis (Libertarian) - Write-in
* David S. George (Republican) - Write-in
* Ted Gianoutsos (Non-Affiliated) Nominating Petition Candidate

PO Box 143115

Anchorage, AK 99514

Phone: (907) 272-1648

e-mail: newanwrted@gmail.com

Candidate's web site: http://www.tedandfran.com
* Glenn J. Gillette (Republican) - Write-in
* Steve Grand (Republican) - Write-in
* Bob Griffin (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Dona L. Grossman (Libertarian) - Write-in
* Marty Grossman (Republican) - Write-in
* Cheryl B. Haakenson (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Fredrick "David" Haase (Libertarian)

200 W 34th Avenue #587

Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone: (907) 279-8768

e-mail: DavidforAlaska@Gmail.com

Candidate's web site: http://www.DavidforAlaska.com
* Jay M. Hamacher (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Lee Hamerski (Republican) - Write-in
* Fred Handy (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Devone Hasara (Republican) - Write-in
* Dominic L. Hasara (Republican) - Write-in
* Carl L. Hardin (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Janet Henry (Republican) - Write-in
* Katherine Hicks (Republican) - Write-in
* Sid Hill (Democrat) - Write-in

PO Box 4556

Palmer, AK 99645
* Kevin E. Hite (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Julie Holbrook (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Joshua Holland (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Nan T. Hooper (Libertarian) - Write-in
* Darrell Horton (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - received too late
* Karen K. Horton (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Alan D. Humphries (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Derrick R. Hunziker (Republican) - Write-in
* Jimmie D. Janeway Jr. (Republican) - Write-in
* David A. Jenkins (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Cindy Johnson (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Grover Johnson (Republican) - Write-in
* Petter M. "Pete" Johnson (Republican) - Write-in
* Sandra L. "Sandy" Johnson (Republican) - Write-in
* Maggie S. Joyner (Republican) - Write-in
* Veronica L. Keanaaina (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Eric C. Kelly (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Steve Kelly (Republican) - Write-in
* Holly M. Kjostad (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Bill Klemme (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Richard T. "Ric" Koller (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* John Kuklis (Republican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Lisa M. Lackey (Republican) - Write-in
* Marjorie L. Landis-Beck (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Lynette A. Largent (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Brian G. Leon (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Kevin S. Luce (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* David D. March (Republican) - Write-in
* Deanna M. March (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Lyn Marcum (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Paul Markstrom (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Edward D. Martin, Jr. (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Scott T. McAdams (Democrat)

PO Box 200569

Anchorage, AK 99520

Phone: (907) 297-2575

e-mail: info@scottmcadams.org

Candidate's web site: http://www.scottmcadams.org
* Mark McArthur (Republican) - Write-in
* Richard McGahan (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Caroline C. McMullins (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Maureen M. "Mo" Meeks (Republican) - Write-in
* William M. Merrill (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Matt Michetti (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Jasmine A. Miles (Rrepublican) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Joe Miller (Republican)

PO Box 72838

Fairbanks, AK 99707

Phone: (907) 452-8559

e-mail: info@joemiller.us

Candidate's web site: http://www.joemiller.us
* Taylor Moore (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - did not meet age requirements
* Tom R. Moore (Republican) - Write-in
* Joe S. "Steve" Morawitz (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Marvin Roger Moser (Republican) - Write-in
* Lisa Murkowski (Republican) - Write-in

PO Box 100847

Anchorage, AK 99501

Candidate's web site: http://www.lisamurkowski.com/
* Tom M (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* William J. Nemec (Non-Affiliated) "Denied - Signatures not filed by the 8/24/10 deadline as required by AS 15.25.150"
* William A. Nilsson (Republican) - Write-in
* Roger L. Pearson (Republican) - Write-in
* Sam R. Pepper (Republican) - Write-in
* Karen Perry (Republican) - Write-in
* Roderic Perry (Republican) - Write-in
* Melissa A. "Lissa" Pike (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - did note meed age requirement
* Gregory G. Purvis (Republican) - Write-in
* Janice A. "Jan" Quinn (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Laura L. "Lisabeth" Raschal (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Cullen L. Reece (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Carl Remley (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Patrina Remley (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Irene M. Repper (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Richard S. Repper Jr. (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* David R. Roberts (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Lance Roberts (Republican) - Write-in
* Ben F. Sawyer (Republican) - Write-in
* Howard J. "Jim" Shanks (Democrat) - Write-in
* William H. Smith (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Scott Smith (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - did not meet age requirments
* Chad Solberg (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Tim Sovde (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Norman Starkey (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Thompson Steve (Republican) - Write-in
* Richard A. "Rick" Stillie Jr. (Republican) - Write-in
* Glenn E. Swan (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Nicola J. "Nicki" Taysom (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Trevor Tew (Republican) - Write-in
* James Thatch (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Pamela S. Thatch (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Janelle B. Thibodeaux (Republican) - Write-in
* Kim A. Thibodeaux (Republican) - Write-in
* Georgia Lee Tolbert (Republican) - write-in
* Marty VanDiest (Republican) - Write-in
* Garret Y. VanEck (Republican) - Write-in
* Linda Vrem (Republican) - Write-in
* Tracy Vrem (Republican) - Write-in
* Kelly S. Walters (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Jerry Ward (Republican) - Write-in
* Robert D. Warte (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in - Denied - Received too late
* Ryan L. Waters (Republican) - Write-in
* Rene Weber (Republican) - Write-in
* Timothy M. Weidensee (Republican) - Write-in
* Jed Whittaker (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Martin Williams (Non-Affiliated) - Write-in
* Jeffrey S. Wood (Republican) - Write-in
* James M. Woosley (Republican) - Write-in
* Kathy Jo Zurek (Republican) - Write-in

[Bigh4u2]

No. Not so good if my grandchildren are sitting home reading this.

And my oldest grandson ‘10 years old’ does read FR.

[Truth is a Weapon]

The big deal is because the Alaska Supreme Court indicated that they might rule to allow election workers to provide voters with a list of write-in candidates if they were asked by the voter. That is against Alaska voter regulations.

So, the voter response was to cause the list of write-in candidates to be more than just Lisa Murkycowtits. Now people will have to look through a list of 100 names to find how to spell her name. How many of those voters will just give up and check a box?

[freespirited]

There is a regulation in Alaska that prohibits any “information” about write-in candidates within 200 feet of a voting site. Despite this, obviously partisan state employees with the Elections Division were giving out a list of write-in candidates in a transparent effort to promote Murkowski.

Both the GOP and RAT parties went to court to stop it. The first judge issued a restraining order, saying the activity was a clear violation of the rules. So Princess Lisa ran crying to the Supreme Court, which, a la the famed NJ pro-Toricelli court, put a stay on the first judge’s ruling. Election employees were then free to help citizens write in a candidate by supplying the names of the declared write-ins.

This Operation Chaos is a reaction to that.

The Supreme Court could still change its mind; the case is not over.

[CajunConservative]

The list of voters is the whole point of the sign up of write in candidates. The Alaska Supreme court overruled the ruling denying MooCowski from handing out a paper with the list of write in candidates so that it would be easier for voters to vote for her.

The list that is going to be handed out now has to contain all of the write in candidates names which simply will clutter the list.

[NEMDF]

But then, couldn’t people hand out papers at the polling places with the various versions of the name on it? So you might not know which was the genuine spelling?