LOD: TV’s West Wing on Ballot

North Carolina is not the only state where judges are elected in nonpartisan contests on a ballot full of partisan candidates. In Michigan, one Supreme Court candidate has found a way to call attention to the problem. She’s enlisted her sister’s co-stars from the “West Wing” hit series to cut a polished ad about getting ignored on the ballot. Toby, C. J., Josh, the President – they’re all involved; check it out. It’s tough for judicial candidates to get attention from the media or voters on the campaign trail, and many voters never bother to turn over the ballot or get to the end, where these names appear. Or they choose the “straight-party” option which doesn’t include judges. The drop-off in participation from the top of the ticket is staggering. In 2008, 4.3 million North Carolinians cast ballots in the presidential contest but only 3.1 million made a choice in the state Supreme Court race – a 30% drop. That race was decided by only 62,000 votes. The judicial contests this year are vitally important – and the state voter guide is now appearing in people’s mail boxes (thank you, public campaign financing). Don’t throw it away; use it to help you decide – and vote the whole ballot this time, top to bottom, both sides, president to judges.