Subject: Re: [EL] Alaska write-ins, voter intent, and the Democracy Canon
From: Abigail Thernstrom
Date: 11/6/2010, 1:27 PM
To: Allison Hayward
CC: Election Law <election-law@mailman.lls.edu>


Of course. The only reason I asked the question in such a ridiculously hesitant way is that I should have thought of it myself, and vaguely wondered, hmmm, is there a reason why such an obvious question wasn't immediately obvious to the rest of us who know the VRA inside out?

But maybe all but Keith are ignorant country bumpkins who, as you say, just fell off a turnip truck -- with me at the top of that list.

Anyway, Kudos to Keith; I have long been his fan.


Abigail Thernstrom
Vice-chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Adjunct Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
www.thernstrom.com



On Nov 6, 2010, at 3:52 PM, Allison Hayward wrote:

Keith didn't just fall off the turnip truck , you know.


On Nov 6, 2010, at 1:13 PM, Abigail Thernstrom wrote:


By golly, he's right -- at least to raise the question.

Dan: Do you disagree?

Abby

Abigail Thernstrom
Vice-chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Adjunct Scholar, American Enterprise Institute


On Nov 6, 2010, at 6:27 AM, Gaddie, Ronald K. wrote:

Does the requirement of perfect spelling on a write-in ballot constitute a test or device? I am not trying to be cute, but pose this as a legitimate question for a conversation concerning a Section 5 state (Alaska).  Perfect spelling might be construed as an undue burden on a voter seeking to express a write-in preference. 

Ronald Keith Gaddie
Professor of Political Science
Editor, Social Science Quarterly
The University of Oklahoma
455 West Lindsey Street, Room 222
Norman, OK  73019-2001
Phone 405-325-4989
Fax 405-325-0718
E-mail: rkgaddie@ou.edu
http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/G/Ronald.K.Gaddie-1
http://socialsciencequarterly.org