How to Vote for a Cease-Fire
A guide to voting “Uncommitted.”
The presidential rematch is now official. Since the Georgia, Washington and Mississippi primaries on March 13, both President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump have accumulated outright majorities of each of their party’s total delegates, ensuring that they will both be on our ballots in November (barring unforeseen events, which given the ages of both men can’t entirely be ruled out). But presidential primaries continue to occur—and are by no means irrelevant for those seeking to register their discontent with Biden’s Gaza policy. We’ve seen the impact that a robust “Uncommited” vote in just the first half of these races has already had on the administration’s words and deeds, moving the White House from a full-body hug of Netanyahu to talk of a cease-fire and the need for a Palestinian state. It’s our task to make sure that momentum is sustained—to send a message, end a war, and save a presidency from itself. Here’s how those who live in upcoming primary states can do so.
April 2: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, New York
This set of upcoming contests will be some of the last Democratic primaries to be held in, well, a set. Going forward, most will be held on their own days—which has resulted in decreased coverage over the past few weeks. This makes these contests particularly crucial, which is a good thing, as they collectively present very potent opportunities for the uncommitted movement. All except New York will have an uncommited option on the ballots outright, and there are reasons to expect it to do well in each of these states. This is especially the case in Wisconsin. But things could be choppier in the Acela corridor states, which historically have been more right-leaning in Democratic primaries—however there’s always room for a surprise.
Vote uncommitted if you’re Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin (where it’s called “unrestricted delegation”). If you’re in New York State, vote blank—it will be counted.
April 6: Alaska
Only a few days after Wisconsin and the Acela corridor comes Alaska, where uncommitted will also be on the ballot. It stands to do well with the state’s historically progressive Democratic primary electorate. Vote for it if you’re there—just keep in mind that it’s called “undeclared” on the ballot.
April 13: Wyoming (Caucus, Called “Undeclared”)
A week after Alaska will be Wyoming, another sparsely-populated western state with progressive tendencies in past primaries. Like Alaska, it will be referred to as “undeclared” on the ballot.
April 23: Pennsylvania
Voting by itself later in April will be the Keystone State, where neither “uncommitted” nor the pro-cease-fire Marianne Williamson will be available options. Given that blank ballots are historically not counted in the state, this presents something of a bind to those in the state wishing to cast protest votes. Right now, there is an organization called UncommittedPa calling on people to write-in “uncommitted” on their ballots. Whether or not these votes will be counted is not clear, but local reporting has indicated that the group is contacting election officials to ask them to allocate the ballots.
April 28: Puerto Rico
“Uncommitted” will not be an option in the overseas territory of Puerto Rico. Since the island has counted blank ballots in past primaries, that is the best option available.
May 7: Indiana
While Indiana has not officially canceled its primary, Biden is the only name on the ballot, and write-ins are not available. The state has not counted blank ballots in the past, and there are currently no in-state protest efforts that have endorsed that method, or any other, in the state.
May 14: Maryland, Nebraska, West Virginia
In Maryland, another Acela corridor state, voters will be able to vote “uncommitted.” Nebraskans and West Virginians will not have that option, nor will they have the Williamson on their ballots. There are currently no organized protest vote campaigns organized in either state, and it is not clear if either will count blank ballots. Voting for Dean Phillips or another non-Biden candidate may be worth it in these states unless it becomes clear that they do count blank ballots in their totals.
May 21: Kentucky, Oregon
Kentucky voters will have an “uncommitted” option on their ballots. Oregon voters do not, but the state has historically counted all write-ins cast in its elections. These votes are usually piled together as a single group, so whoever or whatever you write-in won’t matter, although simply writing in “uncommitted” might be the clearest way to connect your vote to the rest of the movement. Currently, there are not any organized protest voting efforts in the state endorsing one manner of write-in over another.
May 23: Idaho (Caucus)
Voters who show up for Idaho’s caucus will be given an “uncommitted” option.
Popular
“swipe left below to view more authors”Swipe →June 4: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, District of Columbia, South Dakota
Montana, New Jersey and New Mexico voters will be able to vote uncommitted in their June primaries, although the option will be referred to as “no preference” in Montana. Washington, D.C., voters will not have such an option, but write-ins will be counted in a manner similar to Oregon’s. South Dakota will not have an “uncommitted” option and has not historically counted blank ballots, but does include the pro-cease-fire Williamson among its listed candidates.
June 8: Virgin Islands, Guam
Voters in the Virgin Islands will be able to vote “uncommitted.” Candidate availability in Guam is still not decided as of the time of writing for this article.
We cannot back down
We now confront a second Trump presidency.
There’s not a moment to lose. We must harness our fears, our grief, and yes, our anger, to resist the dangerous policies Donald Trump will unleash on our country. We rededicate ourselves to our role as journalists and writers of principle and conscience.
Today, we also steel ourselves for the fight ahead. It will demand a fearless spirit, an informed mind, wise analysis, and humane resistance. We face the enactment of Project 2025, a far-right supreme court, political authoritarianism, increasing inequality and record homelessness, a looming climate crisis, and conflicts abroad. The Nation will expose and propose, nurture investigative reporting, and stand together as a community to keep hope and possibility alive. The Nation’s work will continue—as it has in good and not-so-good times—to develop alternative ideas and visions, to deepen our mission of truth-telling and deep reporting, and to further solidarity in a nation divided.
Armed with a remarkable 160 years of bold, independent journalism, our mandate today remains the same as when abolitionists first founded The Nation—to uphold the principles of democracy and freedom, serve as a beacon through the darkest days of resistance, and to envision and struggle for a brighter future.
The day is dark, the forces arrayed are tenacious, but as the late Nation editorial board member Toni Morrison wrote “No! This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”
I urge you to stand with The Nation and donate today.
Onwards,
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation
