Would you vote in a primary election if everyone was unopposed?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I was thinking about this. My primary is Tuesday and there's nothing interesting on the ballot. Here's my ballot: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/ShowImage.aspx?i=2DF9E3E0-8377-44E0-8413-690B890ED6E3

So if I was a Republican, literally all candidates would be unopposed. As it is Keith Ellison and my State Senator Jeff Hayden face some joke nominal opposition. Not unopposed but not exactly exciting either. Yet I'll vote to keep my perfect record.

That Supreme Court race doesn't really matter much by the way, because it's just a first round, the real election will be a runoff in November between the top two. The incumbent is a liberal Dayton appointee, the challengers are some crazy lady who believes in conspiracy theories about the UN per her website and some random guy who doesn't even have a website. So it's obvious who's going to win anyway.

[IceSpear]

Yes (Atlas poster)

[evergreenarbor]

If everyone in every office ran unopposed, then I would return a blank ballot. I generally don't vote for candidates who are running unopposed, because they're going to win anyways.

[Figueira]

In the past, I have because leaving spaces blank kind of bothers me for some reason.

That said, from now on I think I'll vote in those if I actually like the person, and leave it blank if I don't.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

No, because in this State we have no write-ins for primary elections, so if everyone was unopposed, there would be no primary (for that party). Unopposed primary races don't go on the ballot.

[Hammy]

I would show up if there were other elections, but wouldn't really bother voting in an unopposed primary. Meanwhile I'm too OCD (for lack of a better way of putting it) to leave anything blank on the general ballot.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Guess not. I believe voting is a duty and support making it mandatory, but it's not voting if there's only one choice.

[LLR]

Yes, I would write in Harold Stassen to every position.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Yes, I would write in Harold Stassen to every position.

Here's my answer as well.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

For the record Minnesota doesn't hold a primary either if the office is unopposed, but only for both parties. Both Republicans on that ballot are unopposed, but the office still appears because the DFL side isn't. However for State House the Democrat is unopposed as well, hence no primary for that race.

So what if every race was in fact unopposed? Well the Supreme Court election is still there and would be the only thing to vote on. What if that too was unopposed? ....good question. It'll take some digging to see if this occurred any time recently and if so were there any areas where all offices were unopposed as well. Actually come to think of it it probably hasn't happened because of statewide offices. This is the first election with no statewide elections (except for the Presidential one) since 2004 and looking at the results there I see results for Congressional primaries where all parties were unopposed...so the law must've changed recently.

Yes, I would write in Harold Stassen to every position.

Here's my answer as well.

As you can see on that sample ballot Minnesota doesn't allow write-ins in primaries, so that's not an option here either.

[Joe Republic]

I turned out to vote in the primary back in June, and then quickly realized that the only races on there were Dina Titus and CCM each running against some random nobodies, and a dozen (nonpartisan) judicial offices I refuse to vote for on principle.  Kind of a waste of time, but civic duty fulfilled I guess.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

I'm under the impression that (some of) your representatives look to see if you are a two-a-year voter in determining if they should give you a personalized reply. Also helps if you need anything from them...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'm under the impression that (some of) your representatives look to see if you are a two-a-year voter in determining if they should give you a personalized reply. Also helps if you need anything from them...

Good point.

[Blair]

Yes- my polling booth is just down the road and takes 10 seconds to get to.

Whilst we don't have unopposed elections, living in South London the local elections are basically just deciding whether it's 57 Lab Councillors/3 Green Councillors or 58/2.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I don't think I'll ever see uncontested election in my place, especially to Sejm with party lists.

[TDAS04]

In the general election for US Senate in 2010, John Thune was the only one on the ballot, and I left that part the ballot blank.

[Thunderbird is the word]

No, I actually once wrote myself in because I was pissed about this.

[kcguy]

I once voted in a general election when everyone was unopposed.

(It was November 1999 in Virginia.  State Senate and State House were the only races on my ballot.  It's probably the only time in my life I'll ever vote a straight Republican ticket.)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

On my August 2nd primary ballot, there were few actual races, but there was always a write-in option for every race, even if there was no write-in candidate. Nevertheless, as I was an Elections Inspector, I felt the obligation to have my own ballot cast. Especially since this would be only mmy second elecction voting in.

[Xing]

Yes (Atlas poster)

[RaphaelDLG]

It's still somewhat meaningful to throw a protest vote (in my first vote ever, I cast a vote for "Shaquille O'Neal" in protest against my corrupt unopposed congressman), at least if a statistically significant number of people might join you...

...but, honestly, you should really just go vote in the other party's primary, if possible.

[Devout Centrist]

Yeah, assuming the line isn't too long.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I almost didn't.

I forgot about it. I only did because I promised a co-worker to drop off her rent check, and then saw the voting signs. This was with one hour left. I made it with a half hour to spare.

Voter 211. Not bad turnout for something so meaningless.