City’s Voter Intimidation Campaign Prevents Write-In Candidate’s Success
Agents from the city of Keene were standing by all day long at Keene’s ward 4 voting location, lurking in wait for people registered to vote at the UPS Store at 39 Central Square. Whenever a voter would attempt to vote with a registration at that address, the voting bureaucrat would issue a challenge to the individual’s voting registration, claiming that address was not a “valid domicile”. The challenge meant that a “domicile affadavit” was brought out and the person in question was required to swear an oath that his domicile was indeed at the address they were claiming. We know this intimidation tactic irritated one potential voter so much he turned around and left. This is pure intimidation, as all they really need is an affidavit swearing domicile in a particular ward, however they always claim they need an exact address, which is nonsense, as homeless people can register to vote. I filled out my domicile address as homeless in Ward 4 and proceeded to vote.
My write-in “campaign”, which consisted of me mentioning it here on the blog the day before and once on the radio several weeks ago, only garnered nine of the ten votes required to qualify me on the general election ballot. Looks like the statists’ tactics were successful.
Of course, had I gotten ten votes, you can bet the clerk’s office would have continued to work hard at preventing my name from going on the ballot. After all, they don’t want to give people the actual opportunity to vote for someone who is running as “Nobody” and pledging to refuse to take office.
All that said, this story is proof that one vote really can make a difference in local elections here in New Hampshire. As more politically minded people move to Keene and get active in the system, things will get more frustrating for the statists. The bureaucrats are pretty fortunate most activists here at this time want nothing to do with the inside-the-system stuff. I bet we’ll see the movement in Keene expand to include more politically active people in the next two years. We already know that Andrew Carroll is planning a state house run in 2010, and Nick Ryder’s campaign for city council is still going, with him beating local snitch and busybody Clark “Pepper Pete” Anderson in the primary.
Comments
30 Comments on City’s Voter Intimidation Campaign Prevents Write-In Candidate’s Success
Sad and pathetic.
I wonder if this would be grounds for a lawsuit.
Doubtful, as any voter can “challenge” any other voter.
Though this was officially sanctioned, so maybe it qualifies as official oppression?
‘We don’t understand why you people don’t just use the system to effect the changes you want in ‘our’ laws’
Meh
It’s not clear whether the voting location was at the UPS store or if use of the UPS Store address was causing the challenges. Suggestion: clarify that this pertains to voters who used the UPS address as their domicile location.
“lurking in wait for people registered to vote at the UPS Store at 39 Central Square” -> “lurking in wait for people who used UPS mailboxes as their addresses.”
All that said, this story is proof that one vote really can make a difference in local elections here in New Hampshire. As more politically minded people move to Keene and get active in the system, things will get more frustrating for the statists.
Whoa, whoa, whoa– how on earth can one be frustrating Statists if we’re legitimizing the very same institutions that make it possible for all such violence and coercion to happen via participation?
I think the write-in candidate’s lack of campaigning enough or in the way needed to get ten votes is the reason the candidate didn’t get ten votes, not the city.
Also, it’s not wrong to challenge a vote if you really think it may not be valid. I’m not saying that happened in this case, but challenging isn’t always wrong.
Maybe it’s like the idea of grabbing another guy’s axe and playing it way better than he does.
It’s hard to deny that if voluntarists managed to gain control of the political machinery that the designs of many statists would be thwarted.
It’s also hard to deny that the attainment of power can be a very corrupting influence.
I’ve thought about running for office. Beyond the fact that I wouldn’t do it dishonestly and so wouldn’t get many votes from the frightened sheeple, I worry about the consequences of having power over others.
I know the media will paint a liberty minded official as a do nothing crank, because that is what has happened to the Libertarian City Council member in my local city. ‘He doesn’t do anything’ is the complaint. I think it’s great but most people think gubment should be doing something.
Our Libertarian guy got elected, voted no on everything, and now he’s getting his ass handed to him in this election.
Politics
Yuk
Jesse, it’s a myth that participation in voting legitimzes or makes possible violence. There have been places with 0 voter turnout where government people just keep stealing and terrorizing.
It’s OBEDIENCE that makes possible their rule, not their processes. Getting involved in their voting process has clearly frustrated them. Look at the machinations they are going through to attempt to stop liberty activists from participating. They are clearly frightened.
I mean, what if the nobody candidate actually won? What would THAT mean about their “legitimacy”?
Maybe it’s like the idea of grabbing another guy’s axe and playing it way better than he does.
It’s hard to deny that if voluntarists managed to gain control of the political machinery that the designs of many statists would be thwarted.
Control of political machinery makes them Statists by default.
I’m starting to have trouble reconciling my views with a lot of people here– there seems to be less focus on the actual methods of achieving liberty (dual power strategies and counter-economics), and more focus on using this as some sort of quasi-peacenik quasi-statist speaking podium.
That said, I guess I should be forward and say that if you’re advocating the use of the State in any way, you’re a statist– and by extension, opponent of liberty.
You were considering a run for office as an ultra-statist satire campaign. Did that make you a statist at that time?
Jesse, you are entirely correct on this.
However, I have to ask if you feel it’s productive to give the liberty leaning politicos a hard time about it.
I don’t favor government of any kind, but if I can’t get rid of it, I’d like to at least try to put some asses in those seats that can at least CONCEPTUALIZE the idea of leaving me the hell alone.
I don’t think that’s statism. I think that’s self-defense.
What are your thoughts?
Jesse, it’s a myth that participation in voting legitimzes or makes possible violence. There have been places with 0 voter turnout where government people just keep stealing and terrorizing.
Are you seriously so incoherent in your own supposed libertarian philosophy to not understand what ethical implications are present when you vote? First, you’re giving credence through your very own voluntary action to their system. You have effectively said “OK, lets sit down and talk about this.”, which is inherently contrary to the libertarian perspective. Second, if by our very own reasoning voting can’t make their actions legitimate, how in gods good name could it possibly cease to apply to us? Are the intentions between statists and so called “anarchists” all that different if they’re both trying to control an institution with a monopoly on violence? No!
It’s OBEDIENCE that makes possible their rule, not their processes.
I won’t deny that obedience holds it all together, but the act of the vote actually legitimizes their views and the feel-good mentality that comes with knowledge that you’ve “done something”, no matter how perverse.
Getting involved in their voting process has clearly frustrated them. Look at the machinations they are going through to attempt to stop liberty activists from participating. They are clearly frightened.
I don’t really think that is fear– that is just oppression they figure they can get away with, and they can. If you’re going to play ball in their system, you’re going to run the risk of having a foul called on you in their bizarre game, and you’ll be ejected– but unfortunately for you, there are no places to eject you too where they aren’t playing their game, so they stick you in a cage, or if they’re more expedient, execute you.
I mean, what if the nobody candidate actually won? What would THAT mean about their “legitimacy”?
I’m going to be honest, I thought your whole “Nobody” candidate idea wasn’t very intelligent or well reasoned; nothing personal, I just thought that it was a really bad strategy, which is why I haven’t been vocally supportive or actively supportive of it.
That said, my reasoning for this is that you were basically playing a symbolic, semantic game, and even had you been voted in (because yes, YOU would have been voted in, not some intangible concept), some sort of ungodly intervention by the State on the behalf of the State would have undone any “success” you might have had.
In sum, I have two points:
1. This all sounds like quasi-Marxist rhetoric– If only YOU get your hands on the power structure, you would be so bold and just as to dismantle it from within! Never mind the incentives that exist internally that insure perpetuation of the State, but if only we manage to seize control of what we feel to be a illegitimate institution, it would just wither away!
2. If you’re going to sit down and parlay with the enemy, you’re going to have to sell-out your rejection of their legitimacy. You can’t have it both ways.
You were considering a run for office as an ultra-statist satire campaign. Did that make you a statist at that time?
No, because I hadn’t actually acted on the idea, which is all it ever was.
Jesse, you are entirely correct on this.
I know I am, but thanks for reconfirming it.
However, I have to ask if you feel it’s productive to give the liberty leaning politicos a hard time about it.
Just as productive as they feel participating in the State is.
I don’t favor government of any kind, but if I can’t get rid of it, I’d like to at least try to put some asses in those seats that can at least CONCEPTUALIZE the idea of leaving me the hell alone.
I don’t think that’s statism. I think that’s self-defense.
What are your thoughts?
That isn’t self-defense, because the collateral damage from your one vote is catastrophic. Your decision to put some other ass that conceptualizes liberty as you perceive it is no less aggression than when they do.
Moreover, it is becoming painfully apparent that many so called “libertarians” and “anarcho-capitalists” are completely out of touch with not only the philosophy, (participation in the State apparatus is a big No-No) but the application of the philosophy as a strategy for achieving liberty as well. I’m willing to bet that most of you have heard the term “Agorism” before, and a few less might have called yourself “Agorists”, but I’m also willing to bet that maybe only a handful actually understand what that entails, or have actually read the discussions and literature on such things.
Dual Power and Agorist strategies are the only legitimate meta-strategy within a consistent libertarian framework.
you would be so bold and just as to dismantle it from within!
Are you talking to me? If so, you are clearly not familiar with the purpose of the campaign. It is dual:
1. Spread liberty-oriented ideas with the free publicity the campaign garners
2. If voted in, refuse to take office.
So, in no way was I looking to dismantle anything from within. Sorry for any confusion.
If someone had launched a missile at you, and you could hack into their missile control software to divert it, you’d do it. If someone were trying to hit you with a car, and you could somehow gain remote control of the steering, you certainly would try to steer it into a ditch or wall.
There is nothing wrong with attempting to gain some control over the state in order to stop it from hurting people.
Nor does voting imply any sort of endorsement of the idea of arbitrary majority rule. If a person tried to shoot you, and so you defended yourself and got into a gun fight with that individual, that would not mean you believe gun fights to be the appropriate way to resolve conflict — it was only the best method available to defend yourself at the time. Likewise knife fights or fist fights.
If a person is trying to harm you, you have the right to use whatever means you have at your disposal to defend yourself. In some cases, this might involve political activity.
Jesse,
I have to disagree with you here. If a libertarian were elected to office, made not a single vote that increased the power of the state over a single person, and did not accept a salary, in what way would this person be a “statist”?
That said, I do agree that
1) No-one is infallible. I wouldn’t even trust the most libertarian of libertarians with the corrupting power of government.
2) Politics is not the solution to the problem of government.
Are you talking to me? If so, you are clearly not familiar with the purpose of the campaign. It is dual:
1. Spread liberty-oriented ideas with the free publicity the campaign garners
2. If voted in, refuse to take office.
So, in no way was I looking to dismantle anything from within. Sorry for any confusion.
I was speaking generally, but I do appreciate the clarity in your intent. I still think it is a waste of resources and time, but I’ll let you do what you think works without really shitting all over your ideas unless I think to be so counter-productive or grossly out of line with libertarian ethics.
I didn’t expect it to work in that they’d let me on the ballot. It did make for some good footage on the Ridley Report of them going after my voter registration. I got an hour in-studio with Dan Mitchell, and all their machinating to prevent my candidacy really was quite entertaining to me, and in my opinion somewhat damaging to their legitimacy.
Mr Anderson requested his withdrawl prior to the election. It was published in the sentinel. Had he chosen to run this Keene Icon would have pulverized your snot nosed chump.
Jesse, let’s say someone is aggressing against you, like a local gang or something: would it not be OK to send someone to pretend to be one of them, to infiltrate their organization, to try to destroy it? Is that any different than running for office to try to thwart a statist?
You did get 92 votes. Look at it this way. It was not a presidential or mid term election, so turnout for a primary of this type was going to be low anyhow.
92 votes is 92 votes. Go out and spread your message in the next month and maybe you’ll win.
Just don’t cry voter fraud. The UPS store is not a residence (especially if it is not in your ward)so don’t try to get away with that because then you become the fraud.
From what I can tell, registering to vote only requires swearing domicile in a particular ward – NOT revealing where you live. (This is how homeless people can vote.) They will lie and try to pretend otherwise, though.
I think some people are confusing Nick and Ian. Ian actually campaigned a little (though not enough to get more than 9 write-in votes). Nick spent maybe a few minutes campaigning (he filled out at least one form and I saw him talk to one guy).
Anyway, from what I can tell, neither one cares a lot about getting elected or anything, otherwise, their would have been effort and stuff.
Keith,
As I understand Ian’s goal, and if wrong he will correct me, Ian did in fact not want to be elected, or more correctly he wanted to be elected, but did not want to serve which is the same thing, in my opinion, as not being elected, since as I understand things, and correct me if I am wrong, if the elected individual fails to take office, it falls to the next person with the higher number of votes.
Now with Ian not wanting to actually serve, can you blame him for not ‘politicking’? Would you spend time on something that is meaningless for you to spend time on? 9 write in votes is something, however in any event it matters not.
Nick’s campiagn was more or less, I feel(as in it is my opioion and not factual in any way, and Nick can step forward and correct my information if he wants) just something to test the waters.
If I were so inclined, which I have been tempted to do many times, to run for some type of political position(something that offends my ‘freemarketeer’ sensibilities) I’d try running once without doing anything to see how I faired with me doing nothing, to get a sort of baseline on how hard things might be to get elected. Then the next time, I’d know how to judge my next attempt to see if I faired better. Sort of how a amateur athlete trains, he finds out what his worse time could be(generally speaking this is his first time) so he can gage his success or failure.
political ninjitsu
The Jumanjiville/keene town council has a process / procedure in place, on paper, to remove “unsuitable persons” -(whatever language they use…) – who manage to get elected. This process can also be used to remove a person who does something *after* they get elected…I would much rather see Nick & Ian get just a little serious, actually *GET ELECTED* to the council – (How hard can it be? Look who’s been elected already….) – just to see the council try to get rid of them…*THAT* would bring out the councils’ true colors…As for *YOU*, “END GAME” I have heard essentially the same story from several different sources – that your “ICON” – Clark Anderson, gave $50.- to a disabled girl, got her drunk on alcohol, and had sex with her. That’s about what happened, isn’t it, Clark & “END GAME”???…OH? Well, then let’s hear some details about exactly what this “new business venture”, that will “take up a lot of time, *REALLY IS*???….WELL?….Just like I thought…///…I’d rather be friends w/a “snot-nosed chump, than an alcoholic *SEXUAL PREDATOR*…(Yes, it remains my personal opinion, & true belief, that Clark Anderson is an alcoholic sexual predator…& that’s the &TRUE& reason he dropped out of the race…Here’s another one for you, “END GAME”: Where’s Bill Albrecht???…You know, the now-disgraced *former* Cheshire County Atty…
So, you’re willing to waste your (Nick & Ian) time being a 1/2 assed candidate…Great!…///…But, you’re not willing to challenge / inspect *ALL* the ballots???…What? You really think that they *WOULDN’T* do something like make all the write-in ballots for Ian disappear???…Ever see the clip where Fred Parsells *pretends* to “steal” the school board vote ballots???…(that may have been on Cheshire TV, tho…)
I don’t understand how you think voting can make a difference. What you were just shown was that the Keene and county and state government are willing to go to great lengths not to count valid votes. This problem scales directly with the number of votes. The more people vote, the more those who count the votes lie and cheat and steal the elections.
It is good to be politically aware and to participate in community events. It is not sensible to expect to change anything by voting.
If you are going to change anything by voting, the first focus must be on the voting registration and vote counting process. City and county clerks and registrars of voters and the like should be elected, then sheriffs, etc. But if anything were going to be changed by voting, they would have made it illegal.
See my essay on the madness of voting at indomitus dot net for more details.
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