This article is based primarily on information on the Secretary of State’s website. Click here for the sources.
This June the Peace and Freedom Party is supporting four write-in candidates for Congress and the State Legislature. There are also write-in candidates for County Central Committee seats in Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento and Santa Cruz Counties.
Write-in votes are sometimes not counted when voter don’t mark their ballots correctly. So you need to follow your county’s instructions carefully. The procedure varies from county to county because it depends on the voting machines being used.
This article explains how to make sure that your write in vote is valid and gets counted.
Alameda County
The write-in candidates are Eugene Ruyle in the 15th Assembly District and Mary McIlroy in the 9th State Senate District. Read the section below on Sequoia voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Alameda County.
Contra Costa County
The write-in candidates are Eugene Ruyle in the 15th Assembly District and Mary McIlroy in the 9th State Senate District. Read the section below on Elections Systems & Software (ES&S) voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Contra Costa County.
Los Angeles County
The write-in candidates are Adam Shbeita in the 37th Congressional District and Lee Chauser in the 33rd State Senate District. Also, Lynn M. Lomibao and Emidio (Mimi) M. Soltysik are write-in candidates for County Central Committee in the 62nd State Assembly District. Read the section below on InkaVote voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Los Angeles County.
Riverside County
The write-in candidate is Casey Peters for County Central Committee in the 1st Supervisorial District.
Read the section below on Sequoia voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Riverside County.
Sacramento County
The write-in candidates for County Central Committee in the 1st Supervisorial District are Pete Horn, Richard Perry and Linda (LR) Roberts. Read the section below on Election Systems & Services voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Sacramento County.
Santa Cruz County
There are three write-in candidates for County Central Committee: Bob Guzley, Joe Williams and Edward “Teddy” Wood. Read the section below on Sequoia voting machines to make sure your write-in votes count in Santa Cruz County.
Elections Systems & Software (ES&S)
This information is for voters in Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.
To vote for a write-in candidate on ES&S ballot cards, write the candidate’s name in the space marked “Write-In”. You must also fill in the bubble next to the write-in space for your vote to be counted. Make sure you spell the candidate’s name the same way it is spelled on the list of certified write-in candidates available in your polling place.
To vote for a write-in candidate on the touch screen voting machines provided for voters with disabilities, please ask a pollworker for instructions. The Secretary of State’s instructions (here) don’t cover this topic.
Click here for general information on marking your ballot in Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.
InkaVote
This information is for voters in Los Angeles County.
Voting for write-in candidates in Los Angeles is very different from every where else in California. And unlike other counties, voting by mail differs froms voting in person at a polling place. Fortunately, the county voter information guide, which is mailed to all voters, contains very clear instructions. Click here to read this page.
To vote for a write-in candidate the equipment provided for voters with disabilities, please ask a pollworker for instructions. Neither the Secretary of State’s description (here) nor the county’s voter information guide covers this topic.
Sequoia Voting Systems
This information is for voters in Alameda, Riverside, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
To vote for a write-in candidate on a Sequoia paper ballot, write the candidate’s name in the space marked “Write-In.” You must also draw a line connecting the head and tail of the arrow that points at the “Write-In” space for your write-in vote to be counted. Make sure you spell the candidate’s name the same way it is spelled on the list of certified write-in candidates available in your polling place.
To vote for a write-in candidate on the touch screen voting machines provided for voters with disabilities, please ask a pollworker for instructions. The Secretary of State’s description doesn’t cover this topic.
Click here for general information on marking your ballot in Alameda, Riverside, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.