AK: Rasmussen: It's all tied now !

[cinyc]

If someone wrote in Murkowski's name with a couple grammatical errors on their ballot, does their vote still count?

According to the Lt. Governor's office (which is responsible for running Alaskan elections), if it's minor, yes.  A couple minor mistakes?  Maybe not.  It depends.  I also think the Lt. Governor's office asked for further guidance from the Alaska AG, which as far as I know, hasn't been received.

This will be a real mess if it's close - perhaps making Florida and Minnesota look good by comparison.

[redcommander]

In all honesty, I expect loads of people to show up on Election Day and think to themselves "Where is Lisa Murkowski?" and then end up voting for their second choice.

I don't think so. The Murkowski name is well-known in Alaska. Lisa has been going on a media blitz telling voters she is a write-in candidate, so if there are a few people who vote for Miller because they can't find her name, it will probably have minor effect.

[Dgov]

If someone wrote in Murkowski's name with a couple grammatical errors on their ballot, does their vote still count?

Maybe, but I don't think ballots have much potential for Grammatical errors. 

[ag]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

[Keystone Phil]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

No matter what else happens on election day, I will be very disappointed if that vile woman even comes close to winning.

[tpfkaw]

No matter what else happens on election day, I will be very disappointed if that vile woman even comes close to winning.

[ag]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

What about little stamps?

[cinyc]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

What about little stamps?

Interesting idea.  The logistics for doing this would be difficult.

There are 438 precincts in Alaska, some in very remote areas accessible only by airplane.  Granted, those areas aren't heavily populated, but the Alaska Native corporations seem to be most behind Murkowski - so she might do well there.  You'd need much more than one stamp per polling place, and probably would have to hand them out outside of the electioneering perimeter in the cold of an Alaskan November - which may or may not be someplace where you can easily get the stamps to the voters.  And whether carrying the stamps themselves into the polling place would be considered electioneering is another question that would need to be answered.  And where would they get the ink for the stamp from?

[Keystone Phil]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

What about little stamps?

I believe they are allowed. I know they are here but stickers aren't.

[cinyc]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

What about little stamps?

I believe they are allowed. I know they are here but stickers aren't.

When asked by the Anchorage newspaper in September, the Director of the Alaska Division of Elections said stamps weren't allowed in the polling place.

[redcommander]

They could put signs outside polling places.

[cinyc]

They could put signs outside polling places.

They're better off mailing postcards to voters with nothing but the correct spelling of her name and handing out similar cards outside polling stations - outside of the "no electioneering" boundary, of course.  I think the Lt. Governor has said voters could take cards like that into the voting booth. 

Murkowski wouldn't be able to put signs within eyesight of the voting booths - and signs voters can't see would be of little use to voters once inside the booth.

[Brittain33]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

Is that Alaska law or are you talking from Pa. experience?

[JohnnyLongtorso]

According to Ballot Access News, Massachusetts is the only state where candidates can still distribute stickers. Stamps would presumably fall under the same guidelines. Of course, in states with electronic voting machines, they couldn't be used for obvious reasons.

[Brittain33]

According to Ballot Access News, Massachusetts is the only state where candidates can still distribute stickers. Stamps would presumably fall under the same guidelines. Of course, in states with electronic voting machines, they couldn't be used for obvious reasons.

Aha, this was a "They let you PUMP your own GASOLINE?" moment.

We have optical scan ballots where stickers aren't a problem.

[Keystone Phil]

Is there anything in Alaska law that prevents a Murkowski operative from handing out a Murkowski write-in sticker at every single polling place? I presume, stickers would count, wouldn't they?

They are not allowed because they jam the machines.

Is that Alaska law or are you talking from Pa. experience?

Both. I was reading something about this particular election and it stated that stickers weren't allowed because they screw up the machines.

[albaleman]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

[Lief 🗽]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

[Dgov]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

particularly in ALASKA

[albaleman]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

particularly in ALASKA

I think the most accurate poll so far was the Ivan Moore Research poll where Murkowski was not given as a choice. Those who wanted to vote for her had to come up with her name, just like on the real ballot. In that poll Murkowski got just 18%.

[redcommander]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

particularly in ALASKA

I think the most accurate poll so far was the Ivan Moore Research poll where Murkowski was not given as a choice. Those who wanted to vote for her had to come up with her name, just like on the real ballot. In that poll Murkowski got just 18%.

There was another poll where she wasn't an option, and about 30% of respondents still said they would write in her name when given the option of someone else.

[SvenssonRS]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

particularly in ALASKA

I think the most accurate poll so far was the Ivan Moore Research poll where Murkowski was not given as a choice. Those who wanted to vote for her had to come up with her name, just like on the real ballot. In that poll Murkowski got just 18%.

There was another poll where she wasn't an option, and about 30% of respondents still said they would write in her name when given the option of someone else.

Hence why I'm not going to trust most polling at all this year. Least of all in Alaska.

[albaleman]

The polls are WAY overestimating Murkowski. Really, how many people are going to take the time to write Murkowski on their ballot?

I figure if you can take the time to drive to the polling place and wait in line, you probably won't mind spending another 5 seconds writing someone's name.

particularly in ALASKA

I think the most accurate poll so far was the Ivan Moore Research poll where Murkowski was not given as a choice. Those who wanted to vote for her had to come up with her name, just like on the real ballot. In that poll Murkowski got just 18%.

There was another poll where she wasn't an option, and about 30% of respondents still said they would write in her name when given the option of someone else.

That was the PPP, and that was different. Her name was given as an option for people who selected "other" on the main voter screen. So it was given as an option. But on the Ivan Moore poll it was not given as an option, just like on the real ballot.

[MorningInAmerica]

I'm gonna agree with whoever above said that most people wont take the same initiative to write in Lisa Murkowski on a ballot as they would to say her name during a telephone poll. If she were on the ballot, then sure, I think it'd be a close 3 way race. Fact is, she isn't on the ballot, and I think that makes a huge difference. I'm guessing, BEST CASE scenario for Murkowski, that Joe Miller gets about 39%, Murkowski 31%, and McAdams 28%.