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Write-in candidate

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

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
    State Filing requirements Source Notes
    Alabama No filing requirement Ala. Code 17-6-27 & Ala. Code 17-6-28 In Alabama, write-in votes are not allowed in municipal elections. There is no filing requirement for all other races.
    Alaska Filing required before the election Alaska Stat. § 15.25.105  
    Arizona Filing required before the election Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16–312  
    Arkansas Not allowed Ark. Stat. Ann. § 7–5–205  
    California Filing required before the election Cal. Election Code § 8600  
    Colorado Filing required before the election Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1–4–1101  
    Connecticut Filing required before the election Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9–373a & Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9–175  
    Delaware Filing required before the election Del. Code Ann. tit. 15, § 3402  
    Florida Filing required before the election Fla. Stat. § 99.061  
    Georgia Filing required before the election Ga. Code 21-2-133  
    Hawaii Not allowed Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 12–1  
    Idaho Filing required before the election Idaho Code § 34–702A In Idaho, write-in votes are not allowed for judicial races. Filing is required before the election for all other races.
    Illinois Filing required before the election Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 10, § 5/17–16.1  
    Indiana Filing required before the election Ind. Code § 3–8–2–2.5  
    Iowa No filing requirement Iowa Code § 49.99  
    Kansas Filing required before the election Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25–305  
    Kentucky Filing required before the election Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.265  
    Louisiana Not allowed Louisiana Secretary of State  
    Maine Filing required before the election Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21–A, § 722-A  
    Maryland Filing required before the election Md. Election Code Ann. § 5–704  
    Massachusetts Only candidates for president and vice president must file Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 54, § 78A  
    Michigan Filing required before the election Mich. Comp. Laws 168.737a  
    Minnesota Filing required before the election Minn. Stat. § 204B.09  
    Mississippi Not allowed Miss. Code Ann. § 23–15–365 In Mississippi, write-in votes are allowed if a candidate on the ballot dies, resigns, withdraws, or is removed.
    Missouri Filing required before the election Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.453  
    Montana Filing required before the election Mont. Code Ann. § 13–10–211  
    Nebraska Filing required before the election Neb. Rev. Stat. § 32–615  
    Nevada Not allowed Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.270  
    New Hampshire No filing requirement 659:17  
    New Jersey No filing requirement N.J. Rev. Stat. § 19:53A–5  
    New Mexico Filing required before the election N.M. Stat. Ann. § 1–8-66 In New Mexico, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president. Filing is required before the election for all other races.
    New York Only candidates for president and vice president must file N.Y. Election Law § 6–153  
    North Carolina Filing required before the election N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163–123  
    North Dakota Filing required before the election N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1–12–02.2  
    Ohio Filing required before the election Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3513.041  
    Oklahoma Not allowed Okla. Stat. tit. 26, § 7–127  
    Oregon Filing required after the election Or. Rev. Stat. § 254.548  
    Pennsylvania No filing requirement Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 3031.12 In Pennsylvania, elections are run by county boards. Some may require a write-in candidate to file after the election.
    Rhode Island No filing requirement R.I. Gen. Laws § 17–19–31  
    South Carolina No filing requirement S.C. Code Ann. § 7–13–360 In South Carolina, write-in votes are not allowed for president or vice president. There is no filing requirement for all other races.
    South Dakota Not allowed S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 12–20–21.2  
    Tennessee Filing required before the election Tenn. Code Ann. § 2–7–133  
    Texas Filing required before the election Tex. Election Code Ann. § 146.025  
    Utah Filing required before the election Utah Code Ann. § 20A–9–601  
    Vermont Filing required before the election 17 V.S.A. § 2587 Although 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.
    Virginia Only candidates for president and vice president must file Va. Code § 24.2–644  
    Washington Filing required before the election Wash. Rev. Code § 29A.24.311  
    West Virginia Filing required before the election W. Va. Code § 3–6–4a  
    Wisconsin Filing required before the election Wis. Stat. § 8.21  
    Wyoming No filing requirement Wyo. 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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