A Write-In Vote for Hope: How a College Football Coach Inspired My Presidential Choice

On Election Day 2024, a resident of Illinois chose not to vote for either major party candidate. The decision came after careful consideration of the presidential race.

Paul Miller, a media and political strategist based in Chicago, explained his choice. He cast a write-in ballot for Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti instead of supporting any major party nominee.

Miller, who attended IU in the early 1990s when the school’s football team had one of the worst records in college history, stated that he needed to be able to answer his son honestly when asked about his ballot choice.

The decision was not a protest vote but a statement of principle. Miller emphasized that Cignetti’s leadership had already transformed a team composed of non-top prospects into something extraordinary within less than a year.

Miller, who has worked in political consulting for 30 years, noted that few candidates since Ronald Reagan have unified the nation as effectively. He referenced a story from his father about a farmer who voted for Reagan during the 1984 race: “He makes me proud to be an American.”

While acknowledging that both Donald Trump and Barack Obama have inspired segments of the electorate, Miller stressed that recent candidates like Mitt Romney, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris did not inspire widespread unity.

Miller stated that his choice for Curt Cignetti represents a belief in American exceptionalism and the potential to achieve greatness through hard work and collective effort.