A sampling of disputed ballots

Wondering just how clueless your fellow voters are? Worry every time you vote that you might be a dumbass too? There’s not much reassurance coming our way from looking at the ballots in the disputed Minnesota Senate race. A recount is nearing completion, to decide whether incumbent Republican Norm Coleman or Democrat Al Franken gets the seat.

Minnesota Public Radio has posted a series of challenged ballots, along with an instant poll for you to pick who you think should get the nod in each case. Divining voter intent isn’t as easy as it might seem.

In these samples, clockwise from top left, an idiot has put an “x” next to Norm Coleman’s name, then written in a vote for Rep. Michele Bachmann at the bottom; similarly, some wiseacre filled in the bubble next to Al Franken’s name but then added a write-in vote for Lizard People; somebody switched from pen for the presidential race to pencil for everything else, calling into question the validity of the entire ballot; and finally, someone seemed to accidentally vote for Coleman then realize their mistake and vote for Franken, then clarify/totally confuse things by writing “No” next to Coleman.