What a mid-term US election ballot looks like

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Washington State's is actually shorter than it could be because we have a mandatory runoff system without any party primaries; the top two in each race proceed from the primary election to the general election regardless of their political party. That's why the candidates "Prefer Democrat" or Republican, party affiliation doesn't matter at all in our elections.

[weemadando]

Australia's lower house ballot paper is much simpler. However the Senate our upper house is had more candidates (in this years election) than the example Broomstick gave. We also have a preferential voting system so you either just number 1 for one party and then the preferences are counted as per what the party prefers or you can number all, what was it 31 parties or something and have it counted how you like. Needless to say I need the latter because I am a glutton for punishment.

If you don't vote below the line then you are a terrible human being.

*edit*

But having that depth of candidates, positions and fucking referendums on one ballot is quite fucking stupid.

Turns out that you elect politicians who are meant to act on your behalf on those matters. So what the fuck do your politicians do if you have to vote for every fucking proposition and directly elect every public official?

[xt828]

Australia's lower house ballot paper is much simpler. However the Senate our upper house is had more candidates (in this years election) than the example Broomstick gave. We also have a preferential voting system so you either just number 1 for one party and then the preferences are counted as per what the party prefers or you can number all, what was it 31 parties or something and have it counted how you like. Needless to say I need the latter because I am a glutton for punishment.

I think my Senate paper had about 40-odd candidates. Do you have any idea why parties run more than one candidate in a single Senate seat? Seems like they're just wasting my time. The federal lower house, state and local government elections only feature one candidate per party, usually ALP-LNP-Greens plus some random independents.

How are ballots for the upper house laid out in other states? We have a unicameral state parliament, and I've always wondered if it was the same as the Federal system or not.

[mr friendly guy]

I think my Senate paper had about 40-odd candidates. Do you have any idea why parties run more than one candidate in a single Senate seat?

I have not the faintest idea why, although unless you were a major party, chances are the minor parties can't fill more candidate per senate seat. If I were to hazard a guess its to attract people who vote for the person first rather than the party, so in the event of people prefering 2 different candidates even though those candidates are in the same party, that party would still get a vote. Of course I am just making this up so it could be totally wrong.

Seems like they're just wasting my time. The federal lower house, state and local government elections only feature one candidate per party, usually ALP-LNP-Greens plus some random independents.

Well the senate has several seats / state divided among the total number of votes for the state rather than for a specific seat IIRC.

[General Zod]

It's possible you'd have candidates within the same party challenging the incumbent if they disagree on specific issues. We had that happen this year in my state, but I'm not sure why you'd see it outside the preliminaries.

[mr friendly guy]

It's possible you'd have candidates within the same party challenging the incumbent if they disagree on specific issues. We had that happen this year in my state, but I'm not sure why you'd see it outside the preliminaries.

I am pretty sure that won't be the reason in my country. These things stay inside the party.

[Marcus Aurelius]

I think my Senate paper had about 40-odd candidates. Do you have any idea why parties run more than one candidate in a single Senate seat?

I have not the faintest idea why, although unless you were a major party, chances are the minor parties can't fill more candidate per senate seat. If I were to hazard a guess its to attract people who vote for the person first rather than the party, so in the event of people prefering 2 different candidates even though those candidates are in the same party, that party would still get a vote. Of course I am just making this up so it could be totally wrong.

Since Australia seems to use proportional voting for the Senate, I think your explanation is right on the mark. It's a standard tactic in here and all our voting is proportional. Parties often take in candidates wave have no real possibility to win a seat, but nevertheless have a certain amount of adherents, which will boost the overall vote count of the party. This is widely known and accepted by both candidates and voters.

[weemadando]

It's possible you'd have candidates within the same party challenging the incumbent if they disagree on specific issues. We had that happen this year in my state, but I'm not sure why you'd see it outside the preliminaries.

I am pretty sure that won't be the reason in my country. These things stay inside the party.

I think it's probably a little of it combined with quota stacking. The more of your guys that you can pass votes through on the Senate paper the greater chance you have of stealing a quota/keeping said votes out of the other's hands.

[fgalkin]

You poor grots! This is what my ballot looks like

House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District:

HENRIETTA DWYER (R)
ALBIO SIRES (D)
MAXIMO GOMEZ NACER (Gravity Buoyancy Solution) (Nomination by petition)
ANTHONY ZANOWIC (Independent American) (Nomination by petition)

Sheriff
JUAN M. PEREZ (R)
FRANK X. SCHILLARI (D)
HERBERT H. SHAW (Politicians Are Crooks/Politicos Son Corruptos) (Nomination by petition)

PUBLIC QUESTION #1
CONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT TO DEDICATE ASSESSMENTS ON WAGES BY THE STATE TO THE PAYMENT OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Shall the amendment to Article VIII, Section II of the State Constitution, agreed to by the Legislature, which: prohibits collection by the State of assessments based solely on employee wages and salaries
for any purpose other than providing employee benefits; dedicates all employer and employee contributions collected for any employee benefit fund, and all returns on investments of those contributions,
to the purpose of that fund; and prohibits any transferring, borrowing, appropriating or using of those contributions or returns for any other purpose, be approved?
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
This proposed constitutional amendment prohibits the collection by the State of assessments based on employee wages and salaries for any purpose except paying employee benefits (or making other employee-authorized
or federally required payments, in the case of the Stateʼs own employees), dedicates all contributions made to the unemployment compensation fund, the State disability benefits fund, or any other employee benefit fund, and
all returns on investments of those contributions, to the purpose of that fund, and prohibits the use of those contributions or returns for any other purpose. The requirements of this proposed amendment do not apply to the
gross income tax, which is exclusively dedicated by the Constitution to the purpose of reducing or offsetting local property taxes.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[xt828]

What on earth is the Gravity Buoyancy Solution?

[fgalkin]

Maximo Gomez Nacer, a small business owner from Union City, is running as a member of the Gravity Buoyancy Solvency Solution Party. He wants to promote an "energy alternative" he has discovered that uses water to produce energy. The invention is still in its design phase, but Nacer maintains it will decrease America’s dependence on oil.

"This is the basis of my campaign," Nacer said. "I want to make this product happen. I want to promote people saving money."

Anthony Zanowic, of the Independent American Party, is also a candidate. He could not be reached for comment, but his campaign website promotes mostly conservative principles, including lower taxes and making English the "official language of our government."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/1 ... siona.html

So, I have a choice between the incumbent democrat, a Tea Party wannabe who's never held office, an actual Tea Party nutjob, and...that. Decisions, decisions.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Ritterin Sophia]

Mine's a lot simpler than that. For some clarification I should give some info on the Mountain Party, despite what the name impresses* (Ruggedly Mountain-Men we be, RAR!) they're actually a mix between liberal Democrats and the Green Party, created because of the conservative bent of the WV Democratic Party. Major highlights of their agenda are sustainable green energy and pro-environmentalism, election law reform, corporate responsibility, pro-union and economic justice, education reform to ensure a better standard, Universal Healthcare as a right of all citizens, reversing the trend of privatized government, tax reform including removing the tax on food and clothing, elimination of corporate welfare, and making the tax code progressive, citizen referendums on gambling in state. The only main problem is their opposition of NAFTA, the FTAA, and the WTO which they view as undermining state and national sovereignty and made through 'secret cabals'.

The Conservatives are pretty much the WV Libertarian Party.

US SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION
John R. Raese (Rep)
Joe Manchin III (Dem)
Jeff Becker (Con)
Jesse Johnson (Mtn)

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Shelley Moore Capito (Rep)
Virginia Lynch Graf (Dem)
Phil Huddock (Con)

JUSTICE OF SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
John Yoder (Rep)
Thomas E. McHugh (Dem)

STATE SENATE 15TH DISTRICT
Jeremy Donal Bauserman (Rep)
Walt Helmick (Dem)

From this point on you will see why WV is a bastion of the Democratic Party.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES (Pick Two)
Joan Hinzman Sharp (Rep)
Denise L. Campbell (Dem)
Bill Hartman (Dem)

CIRCUIT CLERK
Philip D. Riggleman (Dem)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Joyce A. Johns (Dem)

COUNTY CLERK
Brenda Wiseman (Dem)

As you can see I have a hard choice of whether or not to vote democrat for the latter positions.

*Until now I thought the exact same thing.

[Shinova]

California's got the officials, then minor elected officials, and then the long list of propositions...... for goodness' sakes.

[Thanas]

NTW, the official midterm thread is here