From the archives: Elections

The farcical elections of North Korea; the electoral candidate who was the only one on the ballot, won a quarter of a million votes, and still lost; the electoral error caused by cosmic rays; and the ridiculously circuitous election of the Doge of Venice.

Hey, just because North Korea is a totalitarian state it doesn’t mean they don’t have elections.


Munafri Arifuddin/KPU, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2018 Munafri Arifuddin was the only name on the ballot for mayor of Makassar. He won a quarter of a million votes – but still lost the election.


Air shower
Simon Swordy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Cosmic rays may have nearly changed the outcome of a Belgian election in 2003.


Grand Council
Canaletto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

To become Doge of Venice you needed to get through at least eleven elections.

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