Some voters opt for alternatives in presidential race

Snoop Dogg. “Bro.” Chuck Norris. Jesus. “Mr. Satan.” Daffy Duck.

Those were some of the names that Bartholomew County voters wrote in as alternatives to Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris, Libertarian Chase Oliver and We the People candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Tuesday’s presidential election locally.

A total of 123 Bartholomew County voters, less than 1% of the vote, typed or scribbled in their own preferred choices for president — up from 84 write-in votes in 2020 and the most since 2016, when 325 local voters write-in alternatives for president.

Some voters appeared to make attempts at humor or just snubbed their noses at the major party candidates.

Fictional characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho, who was president in the sci-fi comedy film “Idiocracy,” received votes.

Several voters opted for musicians or celebrities, including Dolly Parton, Alice Cooper, Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio. Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson received two votes.

Two local voters wrote in former U.S. presidents who are now dead — John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

One voter wrote in Vermin Love Supreme, a performance artist and activist who is known for wearing a boot on his head and carrying a giant toothbrush. He has run for office on a platform that includes free ponies for all Americans, time travel research and support for a law requiring people to brush their teeth.

Many of the other submissions were more serious, with voters selecting third party candidates that were not on the ballot in Indiana, former presidential candidates or members of former presidential administrations.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein and American Solidarity Party candidate Peter Sonsky each received 14 votes in Bartholomew County. Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee Claudia De la Cruz received seven votes.

Former UN Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley received 14 votes. Former Vice President Mike Pence, a Columbus native, received eight votes, while his older brother, Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., received two votes.

Former Democratic Party presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders received one vote. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received four votes. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received two votes.

One voter wrote in “Free Palestine,” while another voter wrote in “uncommitted” — likely in reference to a protest campaign aimed mainly to pressure President Joe Biden and Harris to achieve a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war and impose an arms embargo on Israel.

Even though Trump was on the ballot in Bartholomew County, one voter wrote in “Trump” anyway as their vote for president, while another wrote in “Trump Vance,” likely in a reference to the former president and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance.

However, because those two voters did not select the option for the former president on the ballot, those two votes were not actually added to Trump’s total in Bartholomew County, election officials said. It is also unclear if the voters were referring to Donald Trump or another member of the Trump family.

Just 24 of the 123 write-in votes in Bartholomew County were for certified write-in candidates, including 14 for De la Cruz, seven for Sonsky, two for Tom Hoefling and one for Cornel West.

Indiana has specific rules for write-in candidates and how to count write-in votes. Only votes cast for a declared write-in candidate can be counted, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office.

Individuals who wished to become official write-in candidates in Indiana for Tuesday’s presidential election had to file a declaration of intent with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office by July 10, certifying that they had no political affiliations or were not affiliated with the Democratic, Republican or Libertarian parties.

In Indiana, there were 13 certified write-in candidates in Tuesday’s election.