Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 January 30

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January 30

Question about Miami Dade (2000 ballot)

Hi, I am doing several Google searches, YouTube etc, but I have not found any of that, I get to the point. The electoral ballot of Miami County was different from that of Palm Beach and I assume it was similar to other counties, except in the aforementioned PB. I don't know if you can help me to fulfill my request, as well as great curiosity; bad that goes I write to the County. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 10:55, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

As you probably already know, one of the major problems with the 2000 election in Florida was that each county designed its own ballot. It's no surprise that some were better designed than others, with the Palm Beach County one being notoriously poorly done. Now there may have been similarities between some ballots, but they were all independently designed and approved at the county level. Xuxl (talk) 15:35, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

I agree, I would like to make another observation: that year there were ten presidential Tickets, while in this ballot there are six holes. In this drawing there are no candidates for the presidency, but the number of holes were always the same; they do not increase or decrease. Is it plausible to think that "minor" and therefore "irrelevant" candidates have been removed from the ballot, which - I would repeat - would be more plausible? I did not mention the right page, there was no need it is irrelevant, because it is Spanish for native speakers in the state; of course I was referring to the left page. https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/voting-machine-used-in-the-miami-dade-county-elections-that-news-photo/51569393 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 16:21, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

1) Where do you get the "six holes" from? I see twelve columns of potential holes. 2) It's not a case of leaving minor parties off the ballot, it's a question of them failing to get on the ballot. Each party has to get on the ballot of each state (and DC) separately. --Khajidha (talk) 18:00, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

I also see 12 columns, but the page on the right shows the candidates for their offices in Spanish, but they are always the same, only written in a different language. You may be wrong about the rest; I don't think Miami County had a design like that of Palm Beach, unfortunately I couldn't find even a rag. But if this were the case, I would have found my answer and then mine would have been only a wrong conjecture. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 19:22, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

I don't know what you are talking about when you say "you may be wrong about the rest; I don't think Miami County had a design like that of Palm Beach". I never mentioned either of those places. And the fact that two locations within a state have physically different ballots means nothing as far as who is on the ballot. Ballot access (what candidates are on a ballot) is by state, ballot design is often by county. --Khajidha (talk) 19:46, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

I see what you mean now about "six holes". I think you are a bit confused. These are just example ballots (the clue is that the people listed as running for these local judgeships are all famous US jurists, including former Supreme Court Justices). There are three names listed for each office in this model, but REAL elections could increase the number of candidates by simply adding another line and expanding the "box" for each election. --Khajidha (talk) 19:51, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

A voter would place their unmarked ballot on the surface behind the pages with names listed on them. When the voter turned to the first page, the first column of circles would be exposed between the two facing pages. The candidates in the first race would be arranged in a boxed list with arrows pointing to a particular hole. In the model, there are only 3 per electoral race but any number up to the number of lines of circles on the card could occur. Several races might be listed on the same sheet with blank lines in between. The voter would punch out the circle that matched their choice for that office. When the voter turned the page, a new column of circles would show between the pages. --Khajidha (talk) 20:02, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Thanks you have been very helpful to me. In this case ten candidates, ten holes, to understand each other. Is it possible that they were also written in Spanish? I do not believe, rather I believe that in all probability the names of the candidates were all on the left page and perhaps only in English. Well we cleared up, thank you so much. When you want and if you want to wait for your answer, which confirms or denies the above. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 20:09, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Most people don't use different names in different languages, so I'm not sure what you mean here. The names of the offices (President, Circuit Court Judge, etc) are in English on the left and Spanish on the right. --Khajidha (talk) 20:19, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

You understood perfectly, you were very precious. Thank you so much. Well, see you and sorry for the hassle I caused you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 20:40, 30 January 2020 (UTC)