"None" is No More

Nevada's famed "none of these candidates" has been struck down by a judge because those votes don't count in an election, and therefore it is unconstitutional:

The ruling came during oral arguments in Reno over a lawsuit filed in federal court in June and financed by the Republican National Committee. It sought an injunction to remove the state's unique voter option, which has appeared on every election ballot for statewide races _ including presidential and Senate contests _ since 1976.

Secretary of State Ross Miller said his office planned "an immediate and expedited appeal to protect the long-standing public interest of the `none of these candidates' option."

Nevada is the only state to offer the quirky option. It was a way to combat voter apathy after the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon and give them a chance to register their disdain for their choices.

While the law says "none" can't win, it could have played spoiler in a close race.

The fact is "none of the above" SHOULD count, and if it did, then new candidates would have to be fielded if "none" got the majority of the votes.

Unfortunately for the two-party system, it would spread like wildfire all over the country if it had an effect on elections.

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