Do I have to fill out all sections of my ballot?

October 14, 2008 5:15 PM

I can leave parts of my absentee ballot for the US election blank, right?

I have my absentee ballot for Baltimore City, and I don't want to participate in voting for judges. I just want to verify that there's not some weird rule by which leaving these sections blank would invalidate my ballot as a whole. Thanks!

posted by transient to law & government (8 comments total)

Yes, you are allowed to leave any portion of the ballot blank. Only marked votes count. However, you could probably research the candidates for those spots relatively quickly if you chose to go ahead and vote in those elections as well.
posted by crazyray at 5:32 PM on October 14, 2008

Sure, you can leave part (or all) of the ballot blank.
posted by ALongDecember at 5:33 PM on October 14, 2008

You can always write in something inane to entertain whoever handles the ballot, like "Trogdor the Burninator." If for example there was one guy running unopposed for Attorney General and you don't feel right voting for him. Hypothetically.
posted by Tehanu at 8:26 PM on October 14, 2008

Thanks all. I think that answers my question.

FWIW, it's not a question of researching the candidates; I just think that a judge should be an apolitical position, not an elected one. So, however ineffectual the gesture is, it is deliberate. I am all for entertainment, though, and would consider Trogdor if not for his rather un-nuanced views on capital punishment.
posted by transient at 10:01 PM on October 14, 2008

You should really check with your state to determine if you can do this. I've heard former poll workers (don't remember the state) claim that they had to throw out ballots that had "non-approved" write-ins.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:11 PM on October 14, 2008

You can always write in something inane to entertain whoever handles the ballot, like "Trogdor the Burninator." If for example there was one guy running unopposed for Attorney General and you don't feel right voting for him. Hypothetically.

I don't know the laws in your state, but some states do not allow "write-in" votes. In fact, a few consider "write-ins" as ballot defamation and it invalidates your entire ballot. So, be careful with the advice above - as tempting as it might be.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 10:11 PM on October 14, 2008

Hey, dirigibleman, great minds yada, yada yada.....
posted by Gerard Sorme at 10:13 PM on October 14, 2008

Maryland allows write-ins for the general election. But if you want to leave questions blank and are unsure of what that will mean for your ballot, you should call the State Board of Elections.
posted by Tehanu at 8:45 AM on October 15, 2008