Talk:Write-in candidate
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Do they have this in England? And can you vote for yourself? :) --Richy 22:56, 1 May 2005 (UTC)
- We certainly don't have it in general elections - it would count as a spoilt (invalid) paper. I'm not sure about other votes. 86.132.137.134 03:18, 5 September 2005 (UTC)
- As for UK law and write-in's, i'm not sure. I'm pretty certain that the anon is right, but I think David Boothroyd would know more about this. Under North Caroilina (USA) law, you have to petition to be a write-in candidate for a partsian office. The number of names needed depends on the office. However, there are people who write-in names all the time. An election administrator in Onslow County NC once told me that voters who write-in Mickey Mouse wastes their time. In short, it's possible to be a write-in candidate, but it's a lot of work! - Hoshie |
01:57, 10 November 2005 (UTC)
- As for UK law and write-in's, i'm not sure. I'm pretty certain that the anon is right, but I think David Boothroyd would know more about this. Under North Caroilina (USA) law, you have to petition to be a write-in candidate for a partsian office. The number of names needed depends on the office. However, there are people who write-in names all the time. An election administrator in Onslow County NC once told me that voters who write-in Mickey Mouse wastes their time. In short, it's possible to be a write-in candidate, but it's a lot of work! - Hoshie |
In the UK(of which England is of course a part) there is no provision for 'write-in candidates' - it would count as a spoiled ballot. But as to the second part of the above question, it is possible for a candidate whose name appears on the ballot to vote for themself, assuming they are eligible to vote in the election.--Captdoc 09:51, 22 April 2006 (UTC)
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[edit] Arne Carlson
According to Joe Conason, Arne Carlson did not run as a write-in candidate. Carlson was a last minute replacement candidate, and his name did appear on the ballot. Please See Conason's article at Salon.com by clicking here
[edit] Laws regarding tallying write-in votes?
Curious if there are any laws requiring it - it would seem that it would be required, and yet I'm not certain it always happens. Schizombie 23:14, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
- Good question. --Asbl 23:49, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Registered write-in candidates versus unregistered?
Generally, I think anybody can be written in as a write-in candidate, but I have read of "registered write-in candidates." I don't know if there are perhaps some states that have laws about that and others that don't. I don't know what it means if a candidate is not registered in a jurisdiction where there are registered ones.Schizombie 11:03, 15 February 2006 (UTC) Possibly this question is related to my question above. It seems unregistered candidates where registrations are required may have their votes tossed out http://businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/nov2004/nf2004112_5680_db038.htm
- Where I live,
(and it's probably true in general),write-in votes are only tabulated for candidates who have officially registerd. I guess this is to avoid having a candidate win who either does not exist (Mickey Mouse), or a candidate who would not be willing to serve. --Asbl 15:43, 15 February 2006 (UTC)- That makes some sense, although many states permit candidates actually on the ballot who don't meet the legal qualifications for the office, Roger Calero and Arrin Hawkins for instance. And in the 2004 presidential election, Rhode Island tabulated six write-in votes for Mickey Mouse.Schizombie 15:57, 15 February 2006 (UTC)
- As we saw in the 2000 Florida Recount controversy, there are no national standards for elections. Each state has its own standards. --Asbl 02:41, 17 February 2006 (UTC)
- That makes some sense, although many states permit candidates actually on the ballot who don't meet the legal qualifications for the office, Roger Calero and Arrin Hawkins for instance. And in the 2004 presidential election, Rhode Island tabulated six write-in votes for Mickey Mouse.Schizombie 15:57, 15 February 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Perspective
The article starts as if this is a generally valid phenomenon, goes on to explain how it works in US and tells us that it's not recognized in the rest of the world. If this is an American concept, the intro of the article should make it clear. If not, it should present how this is (or was) done around the world. Zocky | picture popups 10:31, 1 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Non-unique names?
Supposing write-in votes for 'John Smith' beat out the listed candidates - how is it determined which of several John Smiths, all theoretically eligible, has actually been elected? --Calair 10:14, 10 August 2006 (UTC)
From the intro: Most jurisdictions require write-in candidates to be registered as candidates before the election. This is usually mandatory in elections with large pools of potential office-holders, as there may be multiple people with the name that is written in. In cases where this is not the case...no idea. Huadpe 23:03, 2 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] In the UK..
To answer the questions above, there is no equivilent in the UK. Parties who run candidates in seats they couldn't possibly win often nominate "paper" or "paperless" candidates, who are candidates who have no leaflets or publicity, and are there often to make up the numbers, or often as spoiler names. Writing in candidates names in the UK is regarded as spoiling the ballot paper. As a three-time failed candidate, by the way, I have often seen many a paper with whole paragraphs written across it =) doktorb wordsdeeds 10:25, 12 September 2006 (UTC)
