WRITE IN CANDIDATE

So you're thinking about becoming a "Write In" candidate......Well, no matter what you are told, there's a very high probability that they'll expend extra efforts to not even COUNT YOUR VOTES.

The excuse (or metric) they claim to use, in general: "if the total number of votes you receive is NOT enough to overcome the difference between your votes and the winner", your votes are not counted (or in many cases, not even officially posted or available). This gets a BIG DUH! And follow-up questions beginning with: Why not❓And, how do "they" know you didn't get enough votes if THEY didn't count them❓

I have argued in the past (after once being a Write In candidate), that I was intitled to review the numbers and precincts where those votes were cast. ALL candidates are intitled to that data in order to evaluate the campaign's effectiveness and to use as guidance for future campaigns.....the government has NO AUTHORITY TO WITHHOLD THAT INFORMATION....as a matter of record, transparency and law.

IF you already have trust issues with the election results and vote counting process then being a Write In candidate will never desuade you to believe otherwise.

BUT HERE is some important information about becoming a "WRITE IN CANDIDATE"....Just the same:

RUNNING AS A WRITE IN CANDIDATE

Several states bar write-in voting. For example, in Nevada, “voting must be only upon candidates whose names appear upon the ballot prepared by the election offices, and no person may write in the name of an additional candidate for any office.” Similarly, in Oklahoma, “If the name of any person is written on a ballot, the name shall not be counted.” Other states that bar write-in voting include Louisiana and South Dakota. Mississippi only permits write-in candidates if the candidate from a given party for a specific office dies, resigns, or withdraws.

Approximately twelve states that permit write-in candidates have no registration requirements beyond registration for write-in candidates to qualify for a general election ballot or to be elected.

For example in Iowa though a Write In candidate does not need to register to win a primary, the candidate must “receive at least thirty-five percent of the total vote cast for all of that party’s candidates for that office in the last preceding primary election for which the party had candidates on the ballot for that office.” New Jersey has a similar “minimum vote” threshold for a write-in candidate to win elected office.

Most states that permit write-in candidates require them to register before the election to receive official vote tallies. Alaska requires candidates to file a “letter of intent” with information related to the candidates’ residency, and assertions of qualifications. Similarly, in Kentucky, candidates must file a “declaration of intent” with the Secretary of State or county clerk by a specified date in October. In total 31 states permit write-in candidates have some filing requirement. Virginia, unique in the nation, permits write-in candidates for all offices, but requires registration only for those running for president and vice president.

To register as a qualified write in candidate, the registration processes may be different than typical candidate filing requirements. For example, in Michigan, candidates may file up until the Friday before the election. In Florida, write-in candidates do not need to pay filing fees.

COUNTING WRITE-IN BALLOTS

There is a broad range of practices regarding the processing of ballots that include write-in votes. Alabama (LIKE MARYLAND) will not count write-in ballots, unless the total number of votes cast for a write-in candidate are greater than or equal to the difference in votes between the top two candidates in that race or if a voter provides a bond or certified check covering the costs of the count. Colorado will only count write-in votes for President and Governor if the write-in vote also includes a name for Vice President and Lieutenant Governor, respectively.

IN CONCLUSION.......They don't make it easy.....They find reasons to NOT count the ballots......AND the system lacks FAIRNESS & TRANSPARENCY.

I CERTAINLY URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

and review the specific requirements, regulations and onerous laws that are foisted upon all Americans who have the courage to STEP FORWARD and seek to represent "the people".

Md. Code, Elec. Law § 5-704

Md. Code, Elec. Law § 10-313

I'D SUBMIT ALSO that this short presentation proves that our elections lack any kind of uniformity or dependability and that's only the beginning of what you'll find by researching your state's election process made overly complicated BY DESIGN.

FACE IT, YOU NEVER STOOD A CHANCE

#NewtonSaidIt from experience. {wink} 😉