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Write-in candidate

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A write-in candidate is a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot, but who voters may cast a vote for by writing their name on to the ballot.[1]

States' rules around write-in candidates vary. Most states allow voters to write in the name of a candidate who does not appear on the ballot in a general election. However, state laws vary with respect to which write-in votes will be counted, as well as if write-in candidates need to file, and when. These rules can be grouped into five categories:

  • No requirements for whom voters may write-in
  • Only write-in votes for registered candidates will be counted, candidates must file before the election
  • Only write-in votes for registered candidates will be counted, candidates must file after the election
  • Only candidates for president and vice president must file
  • No write-in votes allowed
As of November 2025:
  • Thirty-one states would only accept votes for write-in candidates who officially registered with the state before the election. In order for the vote to be counted, the candidate must have submitted all the necessary registration documents by a specific deadline, either by filing paperwork, paying a fee, collecting signatures, or some combination of these requirements.[2][3]
  • Eight states did not have any requirements and would allow voters to write in any name as a write-in vote. Those states were Alabama[4], Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania[5], Rhode Island, South Carolina[6], and Wyoming.
  • In Washington, D.C. and Oregon, write-in candidates must file after the election.
  • In three states — Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia —only candidates for president and vice president must file before the election. There are no requirements for other offices.
  • Seven states did not allow write-in votes. Those states were Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi[7], Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.



    • State-by-state details

    See the map and chart below for state-by-state details.

    State primary laws
    StateFiling requirementsSourceNotes
    AlabamaNo filing requirementAla. Code 17-6-27 & Ala. Code 17-6-28In Alabama, write-in votes are not allowed in municipal elections. There is no filing requirement for all other races.
    AlaskaFiling required before the electionAlaska Stat. § 15.25.105 
    ArizonaFiling required before the electionAriz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16–312 
    ArkansasNot allowedArk. Stat. Ann. § 7–5–205 
    CaliforniaFiling required before the electionCal. Election Code § 8600 
    ColoradoFiling required before the electionColo. Rev. Stat. § 1–4–1101 
    ConnecticutFiling required before the electionConn. Gen. Stat. § 9–373a & Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9–175 
    DelawareFiling required before the electionDel. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3402 
    FloridaFiling required before the electionFla. Stat. § 99.061 
    GeorgiaFiling required before the electionGa. Code 21-2-133 
    HawaiiNot allowedHawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–1 
    IdahoFiling required before the electionIdaho Code § 34–702AIn Idaho, write-in votes are not allowed for judicial races. Filing is required before the election for all other races.
    IllinoisFiling required before the electionIll. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/17–16.1 
    IndianaFiling required before the electionInd. Code § 3–8–2–2.5 
    IowaNo filing requirementIowa Code § 49.99 
    KansasFiling required before the electionKan. Stat. Ann. § 25–305 
    KentuckyFiling required before the electionKy. Rev. Stat. § 117.265 
    LouisianaNot allowedLouisiana Secretary of State 
    MaineFiling required before the electionMe. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21–A, § 722-A 
    MarylandFiling required before the electionMd. Election Code Ann. § 5–704 
    MassachusettsOnly candidates for president and vice president must fileMass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 78A 
    MichiganFiling required before the electionMich. Comp. Laws 168.737a 
    MinnesotaFiling required before the electionMinn. Stat. § 204B.09 
    MississippiNot allowedMiss. Code Ann. § 23–15–365In Mississippi, write-in votes are allowed if a candidate on the ballot dies, resigns, withdraws, or is removed.
    MissouriFiling required before the electionMo. Rev. Stat. § 115.453 
    MontanaFiling required before the electionMont. Code Ann. § 13–10–211 
    NebraskaFiling required before the electionNeb. Rev. Stat. § 32–615 
    NevadaNot allowedNev. Rev. Stat. § 293.270 
    New HampshireNo filing requirement659:17 
    New JerseyNo filing requirementN.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:53A–5 
    New MexicoFiling required before the electionN.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–8-66In New Mexico, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president. Filing is required before the election for all other races.
    New YorkOnly candidates for president and vice president must fileN.Y. Election Law § 6–153 
    North CarolinaFiling required before the electionN.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–123 
    North DakotaFiling required before the electionN.D. Cent. Code § 16.1–12–02.2 
    OhioFiling required before the electionOhio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.041 
    OklahomaNot allowedOkla. Stat. tit. 26, § 7–127 
    OregonFiling required after the electionOr. Rev. Stat. § 254.548 
    PennsylvaniaNo filing requirementPa. Stat. tit. 25, § 3031.12In Pennsylvania, elections are run by county boards. Some may require a write-in candidate to file after the election.
    Rhode IslandNo filing requirementR.I. Gen. Laws § 17–19–31 
    South CarolinaNo filing requirementS.C. Code Ann. § 7–13–360In South Carolina, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president. There is no filing requirement for all other races.
    South DakotaNot allowedS.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–20–21.2 
    TennesseeFiling required before the electionTenn. Code Ann. § 2–7–133 
    TexasFiling required before the electionTex. Election Code Ann. § 146.025 
    UtahFiling required before the electionUtah Code Ann. § 20A–9–601 
    VermontFiling required before the election17 V.S.A. § 2587Although write-in candidates must register before an election, in specific circumstances, state law directs election officials to count votes for a write-in candidate that did not file. See 17 V.S.A. § 2587(e)(3) for more information.
    VirginiaOnly candidates for president and vice president must fileVa. Code § 24.2–644 
    WashingtonFiling required before the electionWash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.311 
    West VirginiaFiling required before the electionW. Va. Code § 3–6–4a 
    WisconsinFiling required before the electionWis. Stat. § 8.21 
    WyomingNo filing requirementWyo. Stat. § 22–16–206 

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ U.S. Election Assistance Commission, "Write-In Voting," accessed November 18, 2025
    2. ↑ Two of those states — New Mexico and Idaho — did not allow write-in votes for certain elections. In New Mexico, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president. In Idaho, write-in votes are not allowed for judicial races.
    3. ↑ Electoral-vote.com, "Write-in Votes," accessed November 18, 2025
    4. ↑ In Alabama, write-in votes are not allowed in municipal elections.
    5. ↑ In Pennsylvania, elections are run by county boards. Some may require a write-in candidate to file after the election.
    6. ↑ In South Carolina, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president.
    7. ↑ In Mississippi, write-in votes are allowed if the prior candidate dies, resigns, withdraws, or is removed.
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