# It wab jubt an innocent mibtake **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386 "2008-10-10T22:08:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 11, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/21 "2008-10-11T01:47:39Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Why would they have 13 differenct versions of the ballot? In Minnesota, state law requires that the order of names be rotated on the ballot. So they have multiple versions of the ballot printed, with the names in a different order on each version. (This is on top of the 12 different ballots for the 12 Legislative Districts within the city – each of then has multiple versions of the ballot for use within that District.) ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/22 "2008-10-11T01:52:16Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > So where’s **Bricker** denouncing this transparently partisan ploy on the part of Republicans? Sure, the election commissioners issued a statement claiming that it was just an honest typographical error, but why should we believe them? You do know that there are two commissioners, one Republican and one Democrat. [ > [@](#): > > ‘‘No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,’’ said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ‘‘We catch almost everything.’’ ]([http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326](http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326))Maybe it’s not a partisan ploy on the part of Republicans. Or maybe…maybe Democrats are habitual liars. Actually, that’s entirely possible. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/23 "2008-10-11T01:57:31Z")
My Arizona ballot had Obama at the top. Spelled correctly. Made it easy to vote, but too bad McCain was next. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/24 "2008-10-11T02:45:19Z")
I think we can lay the blame squarely on the autocorrect feature of the Microsoft Vote software used by the Rensselaer County Election Commission to create the ballots. If only they hadn’t turned off Clippy … ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/25 "2008-10-11T03:40:42Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > In Los Angeles County, multiple versions of the ballot are sent out to minimize any advantage of a candidate’s name being listed first on the ballot. This assumes people vote the same way they pick a plumber out the yellow pages. It also means that if the design of the ballot lends itself to a particular error, it affects all the candidates equally. If Palm Beach County had rotated the names on the ballots in 2000 we’d be getting ready to say a wistful farewell to President Gore right now. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/26 "2008-10-11T03:41:50Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Why would they have 13 differenct versions of the ballot? In New York, the ballot would have not only Federal and State officials but also local officials – including towns (townships) and two cities, which would necessitate different ballots for the communities with local races. If the county legislature is up for election (likely), that would also require separate ballots for each district. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/27 "2008-10-11T04:06:38Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > You do know that there are two commissioners, one Republican and one Democrat. Whoosh, dude. I was doing a **Bricker**. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/28 "2008-10-11T04:54:49Z")
> [@Hogwash](#): > > Christ. Maybe we don’t deserve fair elections. Maybe we deserve nuclear annihilation. And by ‘we’ I mean the entire human race. Eh, I’ve been thinking weaponized Ebola. That way the baboons & elephants will still have a chance to develop civilization & maybe do it right. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/29 "2008-10-11T05:02:44Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > Or maybe…maybe Democrats are habitual liars. Actually, that’s entirely possible. I’m getting tired of this shit. It helps, of course, that I’ve _never_ been Mr. Nice Guy. Fuck you, asshole. You and your ilk are the reason scuzzbags at McCain/Palin rallies are suggesting that the candidate from the other party be killed. Put your fucking brownshirt back in the closet. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/30 "2008-10-11T06:36:56Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > You do know that there are two commissioners, one Republican and one Democrat. > > [url=[http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326](http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=728326)]Maybe it’s not a partisan ploy on the part of Republicans. > > Or maybe…maybe Democrats are habitual liars. Actually, that’s entirely possible. You must be correct. The Democrat saying this was an innocent mistake must be a habitual lia…😕 ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/31 "2008-10-11T17:43:18Z")
I live in one of the 6 towns that the incorrect ballots went out to. I’m heartened to know that both Dems and Pubs are saying it was an innocent mistake, but is there anyone that knows anything about ballot printing that could say whether or not it’s possible for someone on the printing end of things to intercept it before it was printed and changing it? That’s what I’m thinking. I find it hard to believe many people in Schodack, Nassau, Schaghticoke, Sand Lake, Poestenkill or Brunswick\* would be voting Democratic anyway (besides me, of course). These are rural areas outside of Albany. Yee haw! \*I listed all of the towns so I could remain \*somewhat \*anonymous ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/32 "2008-10-11T17:52:53Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Los Angeles voters must be even stupider than most. That _is_ where they draw the jury pool from, right? > [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > I’m heartened to know that both Dems and Pubs are saying it was an innocent mistake, but is there anyone that knows anything about ballot printing that could say whether or not it’s possible for someone on the printing end of things to intercept it before it was printed and changing it? That’s what I’m thinking. This really sounds like a prank to me. Somebody snuck it in, and they’re doing some serious chuckling right now. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/33 "2008-10-11T18:14:48Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > If only they hadn’t turned off Clippy … “It looks like you’re trying to **steal the election** …” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/34 "2008-10-11T18:28:40Z")
People, its [Rensselaer County](http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rensselaer+county+ny&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image), NY. Long after this election is history, it will still be full of [Troylets](http://www.citydictionary.com/NY/Troy/Troylet/1984/)… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/35 "2008-10-11T18:42:16Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > In Los Angeles County, multiple versions of the ballot are sent out to minimize any advantage of a candidate’s name being listed first on the ballot. This assumes people vote the same way they pick a plumber out the yellow pages. Some people do. I came across a study that showed that, on the average, the candidate listed first did a few percent better. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/36 "2008-10-11T19:03:17Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > I find it hard to believe many people in Schodack, Nassau, Schaghticoke, Sand Lake, Poestenkill or Brunswick\* would be voting Democratic anyway (besides me, of course). These are rural areas outside of Albany. Yee haw! Schodack, huh? I don’t know if the ballot screw up was the result of malice or incompetence, but I’d be down with turning Schodack into a steaming crater just on general principle. Is it possible to drive through that town without getting a ticket for doing “11 mph over the speed limit”? Although, if the Hillcrest Inn is still around, you can spare that (if that’s even in Schodack). That was like the greatest bar experience ever the one time I happened upon the place. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/37 "2008-10-12T02:07:20Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Schodack, huh? I don’t know if the ballot screw up was the result of malice or incompetence, but I’d be down with turning Schodack into a steaming crater just on general principle. Is it possible to drive through that town without getting a ticket for doing “11 mph over the speed limit”? Although, if the Hillcrest Inn is still around, you can spare that (if that’s even in Schodack). That was like the greatest bar experience ever the one time I happened upon the place. The Hillcrest just re-opened a couple of months ago, but I have yet to go there. My husband picked up a pizza there and it wasn’t great. And yeah, the Schodack and Nassau cops are bored so they just sit around and give out tickets. The filthy bastards! Not that I’d know anything about that. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386/38 "2008-10-13T04:09:03Z")
FYI, in New York State, the parties (and candidates) are listed on the ballot in the order of the number of votes that the party received in the last gubernatorial election. As such, there should be only one version of the ballot for each election district or group of election districts that are holding the same elections. As was noted, because of the different congressional districts, state senate districts, state assembly districts (all New York state senators and assembly members are up this election), and other municipalities and municipal districts, there may be multiple variations in the elections being held within a small area. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wab-jubt-an-innocent-mibtake/467386.md?page=1)