# Candidate who didn't vote for self loses by one vote

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [December 2, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028 "2023-12-02T20:13:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028/1 "2023-12-02T20:13:27Z")

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An amusing little story from my neck of the woods. The race was for a nonpartisan city council seat in Rainier, WA, population 2500. The result was 247-246, with the loser having decided that voting for himself felt narcissistic.

> **[Thurston County candidate who didn’t vote loses election by one vote](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/thurston-county-candidate-who-didnt-vote-loses-election-by-one-vote/)**
>
> After weeks of waiting for the county to tabulate the results, followed by a mandatory recount because the race was so close, the final vote count came in Friday.

Just a reminder in this acrimonious political landscape of ours that sometimes one vote does make the difference and that sometimes even in defeat one can be magnamimous.

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028/2 "2023-12-02T20:45:30Z")

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Already mentioned here.

> [@Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread/931945/9612):
>
> It’s the Pit so I won’t behave myself. As for stupid MFers: You know, they say turnout is important…

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**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028/3 "2023-12-03T18:37:28Z")

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When I was in high school I “ran” for secretary of National Honor Society. My friend was running against me, and we agreed on a handshake that we would vote for each other.

But when it came time to cast our ballots, I convinced myself I was truly the best person for the job, and I voted for myself.

And I won by one vote.

Curiously, I didn’t feel much guilt. Maybe I missed my calling as a politician.

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**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candidate-who-didnt-vote-for-self-loses-by-one-vote/994028/4 "2023-12-03T20:25:11Z")

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> [@Spice\_Weasel](#):
>
> But when it came time to cast our ballots, I convinced myself I was truly the best person for the job, and I voted for myself.
> 
> And I won by one vote.

Good thing you didn’t win unanimously. Plausible deniability is key in politics! 😊