# Deputy fired after being elected Sheriff. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721 "2018-06-08T21:05:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/41 "2018-06-12T03:13:33Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > It’s amazing how hard it is to beat down the false assumption that the laws are the same in every state. You’re living proof of how hard it is. Yes, I discovered that I was wrong many posts ago when **JRDelirious** posted the law. I’d never heard of the practice before in any of the states I’ve lived in, but you learn something new every day. It wasn’t very hard to learn that I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/42 "2018-06-12T18:51:20Z")
Yeesh. What a dick move by the outgoing sheriff. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/43 "2018-06-12T20:39:52Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > 😕 What is [a perversion of the democratic process]? That if there’s one candidate, that candidate wins? Yes, if there is an anticipation of a subsequent election but no one is allowed to run, and no one is allowed to win as a writein or even given a chance to do so. Writeins may be uncommon some places, but as I mentioned upthread, I know of recent elections where they were significant factors. It’s more likely to happen in a small town, where a candidate can make a few hundred phone calls in a few days before the election, and win. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/44 "2018-06-12T20:43:21Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Here’s a [cite](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/what-are-state-write-rules-candidates-n664536): > > > [@](#): > > > > Different states have different rules for write-in candidates, but they can be divided into three broad categories. Nine states—Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota—won’t accept any write-ins at all. > > ETA: about no write-ins allowed. That reference appears to apply only to presidential candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/45 "2018-06-12T21:28:39Z")
In Missouri you have to file a letter of intent to have any write-in votes you receive be counted: > [@MO Secretary of State](#): > > who has filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for election to office with the proper election authority prior to 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding the election day. It is not necessary to file a declaration of intent if there are no candidates on the ballot for that office. (see115.453 (4) RSMo) > > If a candidate is on the ballot for an office, write-in votes are counted only for the candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the proper election authority. (Section 115.453(4), first sentence) If no candidate is on the ballot for an office, it is not required to file a declaration of intent and votes are counted for every name properly written in. (Section 115.453(4) RSMo, last sentence) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/46 "2018-06-13T01:25:25Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Yes, if there is an anticipation of a subsequent election but no one is allowed to run, and no one is allowed to win as a writein or even given a chance to do so. If the ability to write in a vote when only one party chooses to put up a candidate and no independent candidates choose to run is a mandatory element of democracy, then there aren’t very many democracies in the world. Write-ins are pretty much just an anachronistic American peculiarity\*, and not even allowed in every state. \*Of course, so are elections for heads of police forces. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/47 "2018-06-13T20:01:20Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > That reference appears to apply only to presidential candidates. From “[How to be a COUNTY Candidate](https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/2018CountyCandidatesCampaignGuide.pdf)” published by the SD Secretary of State for the 2018 election cycle: > [@](#): > > South Dakota prohibits write-in candidates or write-in votes of any kind (SDCL 12-20-21.2). Whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea, it is South Dakota law. Nobody but the winner of the recent Republican primary is legally eligible to be elected to the next term as Sheriff. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/48 "2018-06-14T14:11:20Z")
There isn’t even a place on the ballot for write-ins. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/49 "2018-06-14T19:41:42Z")
Wow! That kind of behavior would seem to epitomize “Reasons why Larry Gramkow should no longer be Sheriff in charge of Bon Homme County.” I wonder if the people mostly-voted-for-Maggs or mostly-voted-against-Gramkow. Next, I’d expect Gramkow to seek out the people who posted criticism on his Facebook page and start detaining & arresting them – just because. Classy guy! :mad: –G! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/50 "2018-06-14T23:29:38Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Write-ins are pretty much just an anachronistic American peculiarity\*, and not even allowed in every state. Even when allowed, mrire-in votes often are not even counted. If the total number of write-in ballots cast is less than the number needed to bring the 2nd place candidate above the 1st place one, then the write-ins could not mathematically change the outcome. So they save taxpayers money by not counting them. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/51 "2018-06-15T02:05:42Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Yeesh. What a dick move by the outgoing sheriff. Like I said upthread it’s pretty common practice. I guess this one got press because of the blatant timing. I’ve seen it time and again where appointed deputies and investigators lose their job if they back the wrong horse. It gets pretty intense with the officers heavily encouraged to campaign for their candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/52 "2018-06-15T15:17:10Z")
The county commissioners have offered the deputy a [temporary job](http://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Deputy-fired-after-winning-election-offered-temporary-job-485664001.html). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721/53 "2018-06-15T15:18:41Z")
“Gramkow says he has no regrets.” Compounding his dick move. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deputy-fired-after-being-elected-sheriff/815721.md?page=2)