Miller files lawsuit and keeps Alaska Senate race dilemma proceeding

Joe Miller has submitted a lawsuit against the Murkowksi campaign. Ballots that vote for a write-in candidate could be confusing if spelling errors are made, and Miller wants to keep the state from interpreting ballots. Miller’s suit comes after election officials had said interpretations would be made where sensible and necessary. The goal in the suit is to ensure no leeway for interpretation, reasonable or otherwise, is allowed to exist. Resource for this article – Drama in Alaska Senate race heats up with lawsuit by Personal Money Store.

Alaska Senate race vote wasn't even counted when a lawsuit was filed

Before the final count within the Alaska Senate race, Joe Miller has already filed for an injunction in Federal court. The race has come down between Miller and incumbent Lisa Murkowski, who has been running as a write-in candidate. USA Today reports the Alaskan election law is what Miller is suing about. Alaska law states the write-in oval needs to be filled in. Also, the name has to be written on the line. The last name of the candidate has to be written. Occasionally it appears differently on the ballot. Write in candidates can have their names displayed. The booth must have these. He is trying to cut any tries to discern voter intent off at the pass.

Famous court case brought up

Bush v. Gore is a Supreme Court case Miller talks about. This is the case that the 2000 election decided. Joe Miller, the Tea Party darling with the Sarah Palin endorsement, is alleging the law in Alaska mandates names of candidates be spelled correctly. Alaskan officials say that if there is a clear intention of who had been being voted for, the interpretation is allowed, as outlined by the Washington Post.

It's all being counted

The final vote count within the Alaska Senate race is one of the closest viewed races within the 2010 election results. If Murkowksi wins, Sarah Palin's home state might be upset with all the Tea Party people in it. She will also make history on being a write-in candidate. There hasn't been another one since Strom Thurmond in 1954.

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/09/AR2010110907061.html?wprss=rss_print

USA Today

content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/11/joe-miller-alaska-senate-lisa-murkowski-/1