http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2012/11/07/14660-portlanders-wrote-in-their-choice-for-mayor Comments On: 14,660 Portlanders Wrote In Their Choice for Mayor by Sarah Mirk en-us Copyright 2013 Portland Mercury. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Portland Mercury readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Portland Mercury. webmaster@portlandmercury.com (Portland Mercury Webmaster) Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss That is 19,371 more vote than were cast for Hales, Smith and write-ins for Mayor.

In other words 38,867 voters did not vote for Hales or Smith! That is a pretty significant under vote -14%.
That means the Hales received votes from 57% of Portlanders who voted in the election. While 57% is a significant majority I do not know that it is a mandate.

Worth noting is that almost half as many chose "None of the Above" as chose Jefferson Smith.

What does it mean when 14% percent of the voters chose None of the Above for Portland's Mayor?

Old Fogey
Posted by Old Fogey]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:52:16 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Drunk & Write]]> Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:32:22 -0800 Portland Mercury
Or, you know, you could just gin up some bullshit about the mayor-elect and be a useless prick.
Posted by Drunk & Write]]> Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:31:06 -0800 Portland Mercury Thats just great, glad you are all so happy, enjoy
Posted by Tony Freeman]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:06:20 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by ElGordo]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:52:44 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by ROM]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:47:43 -0800 Portland Mercury
She came in 5th place.

America!
Posted by Reymont]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:34:46 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Fascio]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:21:42 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by bd]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:19:12 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Commenty Colin]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:18:59 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Drunk & Write]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:18:46 -0800 Portland Mercury
Um... what?

Hales: 62%. Smith: 30%. Write-in: 8%.

That's a clear mandate. Yes, his opponent was a joke, but still... if more than 60% of the voters pick you, that's a mandate.

Would you have written that if it were Hales 62% and Smith 38%? The write-ins don't really mean anything at all, and likely mainly came from (gasp!) conservatives who didn't like either Smith or Hales.
Posted by Strunk & White]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:57:49 -0800 Portland Mercury