Write-in votes offer humor and fuel hatred among voters
November 10, 2016
As the votes were rolling in for the 2016 presidential election, rumors about write-in votes sparked hilarity and anger among those on social media.
Over 11,000 people voted for Harambe. Harambe is a dead gorilla.
Those 11,000 votes would have saved our country. #ElectionNight— David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) November 9, 2016
Harambe had 11,000 votes.
11,000 people voted for a dead gorilla.
Let that sink in.
— Jeff (@JayJazzi) November 9, 2016
DISTURBING REPORT: More than 14,000 people have wrote in Harambe as the next President of the United States.
— TheAnonMessage (@TheAnonnMessage) November 9, 2016
Before you ask how we got here:
75 million registered voters didn't vote
5.5 million voted 3rd party
15,000 voted for Harambe— Jonathan (@jkdforthree) November 9, 2016
I'm getting word we have broken 15,000 votes for Harambe, I will not concede until all votes are counted #harambe2016 #electionresults
— Harambe 2016 (@PresHarambe2016) November 9, 2016
Although official numbers are unconfirmed, it seems clear that thousands of Americans chose to indulge in a laugh rather than vote for a valid candidate.
The result? A divided twitter and social media sphere in general as many laughs turned to criticism. If the numbers of responses related to these posts are any indication, write-in votes for Harambe, the Gorilla killed earlier this year at the Cincinnati Zoo and Hennessy, the alcoholic drink brand, could have reached tens of thousands.
We might never know an official tally on the votes Harambe received for President. What is clear is that write-ins, so-called protest votes and votes going to third party candidates such as Gary Johnson that could have swung the presidential vote in a different direction has angered many.
It blows me how Harambe and Hennessy got a combined 17k votes… How stupid could y'all be?
— hector (@FreshPrince_H) November 9, 2016
I hope #jillStein and #garyJohnson are happy! #Trump needs to thank them for his win!
— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) November 9, 2016
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Chris Barker • Nov 12, 2016 at 8:04 pm
How stupid can all you libtards be? 17,000 votes wouldn’t have done shit unless very strategically placed.