What would happen if?

Question

An election was held somewhere, and absolutely NOBODY voted?

Answer 1

That is an interesting question. I know you are being hypothetical and this would never actually happen.

I think it just means the position is vacant and another election is held to fill the vacancy. Or - their successor (such as the Vice President) takes over, as if they were incapacitated.

Answer 2

You would have to go to the rule book. You see, it is not possible for no one to vote. The people running the polls cast their votes to verify the machine is functioning. You will always have those votes.

Elections are actually local events. Regardless of what position a particular election is being held for, you are subject to the rules of your State. Such rules determine the requirements for eligibility to vote, how eligibility can be verified, how challenges will be handled, what the definition of a vote is etc.

Also part of these rules may include the minimum number of votes required to certify an election and what the procedure will be if that level is not achieved.



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Answer 3

That isn't likely. The problem is that people vote -against- someone rather than -for- someone. We vote for the least sucky candidate.

I think we need a constitutional amendment to put 'none of the above' on ballots. In some pre-election polls, 'none of the above' wins over all the actual candidates. In the case 'none of the above' wins, there would have to be another election and none of the candidates can run again.

Answer 4

What Mr. knowitall said.

Except a Constitutional amendment isn't required, and would itself violate the Constitution, elections are explicitly left up to the States. But State election laws placing none of the above on the ballot would be awesome.

Answer 5

Would be the day!

Answer 6

I would laugh, and laugh very loudly.