[EM] Write-in Candidate Rules

[Jonathan Lundell]

On Dec 26, 2008, at 3:40 PM, James Gilmour wrote:

> Jonathan Lundell  > Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 5:58 PM
>> California write-in rules lie somewhere in that gap. Here's a sample:
>> http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/cand_qual_wi.pdf
>> These requirements must be met in order for write-in votes to be   
>> counted.
>
> Having read quickly through these rules, I don't see clearly how a  
> "write-in candidate" is different from a "nominated candidate".
> Both must formally register their candidacy by the due date, all the  
> information is public before the election, both must keep
> proper registered accounts of their election expenses.  There is  
> nothing informal about this process.
>
> Maybe the rules on "write-ins" are quite different in other States?

I'm sure they are.

In California, I see a couple of significant differences. There's no  
filing fee (or signatures in lieu of fee) for a write-in candidate,  
and a  write-in candidate can bypass the party primary. So for  
example, Ralph Nader became a write-in candidate in California in the  
2004 presidential election, because he wasn't nominated by a ballot- 
qualified party, and couldn't collect enough signatures (many  
thousands) to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate.

If a write-in candidate (or any candidate, for that matter) doesn't  
spend much money ($1000 IIRC), her reporting expenses are minimal.