Vote None of the Above

How many times have you wished for just that option when going in to vote? Your just doing your duty by voting but you feel none of the candidates are either not qualified or you are disatisfied for whatever reason with the current crop that are running.

What do you do? Not vote at all? Vote for the least distasteful person to you ? Vote for Mickey Mouse? In Massachusetts this not so novel proposal has been brought to the attention of the Legislature. All it would do is add these few little words "None of the above; for a new election" to the every state and local ballot. And if NOA did happen to garner the most votes showing enough of the voters dissatisfaction with the current choices. New candidates would be allowed to run in a new election to be held in 60 to 80 days later. In Massachusetts just last year alone, 70 percent of the current crop in office won their jobs due to being unopposed. This NOA approach could force a bit of competition into the mix if the voters didn't want the lone runner to take the win. If he/she lost to the NOA vote another candidate would have to be brought forward to be voted on.

Occasionally, when you get an application for a position, none of them are qualified, said William H. White , a retired systems analyst from East Dennis spearheading the scheme, who testified yesterday before state lawmakers.

Now while this approach is not all that novel Nevada has offered the NOA option since 1975 in a non-binding format, the only difference would be the voters could say hey I don't want this person representing me and my ideals and officials would have to try to find another possibly more acceptable candidate to then be voted on in another vote. For some unknown reason this bill has not caught fire on Beacon Hill with lawmakers. It makes one wonder just why after, all they are supposed to be working for the people. Could it be that these same people are just a tad bit worried that if it did go through they might have to face the NOA opposition themselves? Remember that 70 percent no opposition this last year? These are the same people it would have possibly affected had it already been in affect. Under this proposal only the presidential race would be exempt from this bill. Now just why the highest office in the US be exempt is beyond me. That is the main race I personally would like to see the NOA vote option to be used on. This bill is one that is pretty much guaranteed to be buried rather quickly though as I don't see lawmakers would be to thrilled with the possibility of losing a race even when in an unopposed election. But one can dream of possibilities.