The nationwide movement to vote or write “independent” is a vote of protest against President Joe Biden's handling of the Gaza crisis.
PORTLAND, Ore. — There were no major surprises in Tuesday's Oregon presidential primary, with both incumbent President Joe Biden and his Republican opponent former President Donald Trump winning.
As of Wednesday morning, Biden had received 297,783 votes, or 88% of Oregon's Democratic vote. The only other person whose name appears on the ballot in this race, Marianne Williamson, received 23,639 votes, or 7% of the vote. In addition, 16,508 votes were registered, accounting for 5% of the vote. In other states, voters voted for “independents” rather than Biden in protest of the president's handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
On the Republican side, Trump had won 236,415 votes, or 92% of the state's Republican votes, as of Wednesday morning. He received 20,501 write-in votes, giving him 8% of the vote.
This year's total number of entries is higher than the past two presidential primaries. In 2020, the percentage of votes for “other” was 2.1% for Democrats and 6.2% for Republicans; in 2016, it was 1.7% for Democrats and 3.3% for Republicans.
What is unclear is how many of the write-in votes were “uncommitted.” In Oregon, state law (ORS 254.500) prohibits voting officials from releasing tallies of who or what people voted for when they cast a write-in ballot.
“Oregon law directs counties to count write-in votes only when the number is high enough to affect the election. For example, if a candidate receives 49% of the vote and 51% write-in votes If it was a vote,” spokesman Ben Morris said. For the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. “This standard was not met in either presidential primary.”
Therefore, it is unclear how many of the nearly 40,000 write-in votes were “non-committal,” but given precedent in other states' primaries and the fact that the group is “non-committal.” , it stands to reason that a significant number may have been “uncommitted.” Encouraging people to write “noncommittal” in Oregon's primary.
More than 100,000 voters (about 13%) voted “irresponsible” in Michigan in February, and a total of about 263,000 voters in five states did the same on Super Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, about 20% of Democratic votes in Minnesota were “uncommitted.” Closer to home, in March, nearly 90,000 people (voter turnout 9.8%) chose “irresponsible'' in the Democratic presidential primary in Washington state.
RELATED: Here's how many Washington residents voted 'irresponsible' in the presidential primary
About 33,000 voters, or 17.9%, voted “unaffiliated” for Biden in Kentucky's Democratic primary on Tuesday night, while another 11% voted for Williamson or Dean Phillips.
More than 35,000 people have been killed in the Gaza conflict since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on October 7. The attack killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Critics of Mr. Biden's handling of the conflict have called for the president to call for an immediate ceasefire, end funding for Israel's attack on Gaza and send humanitarian aid to the region.
RELATED: Yes, uncommitted delegates will be sent to the party convention if enough “uncommitted” votes are counted
The Associated Press reports that “independent” voting is not a new development: In 2012, more than 400,000 people voted “independent” or “unaffiliated” in protest of President Barack Obama's reelection.
The move does not threaten Biden's standing as the Democratic nominee. The incumbent won primaries in every state, clinching his nomination in March.
The November general election is on November 5th.
RELATED: Trump, Biden win Michigan. However, caution was needed with “uncommitted” votes.
