The most important of which, the CANDIDATE'S NAME MUST BE SPELLED CORRECTLY.

Alaska tried to get around that pesky little rule by performing a "public service" and handing out  a sheet with the (then) name of the write-in candidate, and also conveniently providing free campaign publicity for Murkowski in the polling booth.

What candidate wouldn't want that?

Fortunately, a local talk-show host was able to short circuit that scam by encouraging listeners to run for Alaskan Senator by running as a write-in candidate.

Nearly 100 people filed.

Murkowski didn't take too kindly to that, and had the host suspended.

So now the latest swindle they are engaging in is attempting to gauge the voter's "intent".

If clerks feel that the "intent" of the voter was to support Murkowski, then the ballot is counted for her.

Sorry, that dog won't hunt.

That's nearly as bad as some clerk looking at a ballot with "Spongebob Squarepants" and it and tossing it in the Murkowski totals, because they were able to mysteriously deign the voter's "intent".