The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 4, 2007

Write-ins: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck both lose

By Matt Snyder

MERCER COUNTY — It’s official: Mickey Mouse failed to gather enough votes to get onto the fall ballot.

He did, however, beat out his other Disney and cartoon colleagues with a whopping seven votes, more than Donald Duck at five, said Jeff Greenburg, county elections director, in a release.

Other cartoon characters who picked up votes included Dumbo, Elmer Fudd, and Homer and Marge from “The Simpsons,” the release said.

In all, fewer voters this year cast throw-away write-in votes like those, Greenburg said. There were eight voters who tried to cheat the system by writing in the same candidate’s name using up to five different spellings, he said.

“The good news is nearly 100 percent of Mercer County voters who submitted the names for write-in candidates at the May 15th Municipal Primary are honest,” Greenburg said.

“The bad news for the eight who apparently weren’t is their effort failed,” he added.

Other amusing write-in candidates included: Batman, G.I. Joe, and pro-wrestler John Cena, along with three historical figures who met at the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., which was depicted in the recent movie “300”: King Xerxes of Persia, King Leonidas of Sparta, and Arcadian leader Daxos, Greenburg said.

Jesus also secured one vote, Greenburg said.

“Jim Traficant, the former Congressman from Mahoning County, Ohio, received two votes, although his total is significantly less than in past years,” he said.

“Rush Limbaugh and The Boogeyman both got votes,” he said in the release, “although some on the left end of the political spectrum might argue they’re one in the same.”

Bee Nice, Kay Mart, Chuck Roast, No One, Me, Anyone But Him, Anyone Else, and Anybody Else also showed up, along with one vote for John Doe, the release said.

There were a few who may have been expressing opinions on office-holders or politics when they voted for John W. Crook, Lost Cause, No New Tax, and Some(one) Beside Vested Interest, Greenburg said.

A few number and initial combinations, such as 1234567 and AAAA also tallied votes, he said.

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