How Do I Do a Write-In Vote?
Every voter should learn how to do a write-in vote. While not used very often, it's a basic voting necessity. This year, make it a point to learn how to do one. Why this year? Because you don't need to, that's why, and therefore, that's the best time to learn. One of these years, you just may need to cast a write-in ballot. That's not the time to learn. You want to go in with confidence, not trepidation.
The write-in vote is used often in elections. You just don't see it because the newspapers don't usually give much space as to the results. You can actually vote for whomever you want when you write someone's name in. You certainly don't need their permission. And they'll never know who did it since a write-in vote is just as secret as voting the regular way. So, if you don't tell them, that person will never even know you did it. Some people even write in names of cartoon characters. As for myself, when I use it, I like to keep it professional. I pick an actual person who I think would do a good job and who could actually fill the position. (i.e. - somebody living and who resides in the area they would serve.)
Before you do a write-in vote in New York State, however, you need to remember two things.
- The first is that once you push the slot lever up, you cannot change your mind and pull the lever across from a name as you normally would. This is a safeguard to prevent someone from voting twice: once as a write-in and again using the lever. This locking procedure only occurs for that column. You can still use the levers on the other columns.
- The second thing to remember is that if you write in the name of a person whose name already appears on one or more of the regular lines, your write-in vote will not count for that person. On the regular voting lines, the separate votes for a person running on two or more party lines will be added together to produce one total. Not so with the write-in votes. The logic of this is that if the voter didn't vote for the person using the lever, then that voter must be voting for another person who has the same name.
So how do you actually do one? In New York State, all mechanical voting machines pretty much have the same layout. Therefore, these directions should cover all of them. Make sure when you go into the voting booth, you have a pen or pencil. Technically, there should be a pencil in there. It's usually hanging from a long string on the left hand side. Sometimes though, the point is dull or broken. It's best to have your own just in case. Next, find the column of the contest that you want to do the write-in vote. The name of the office is along the top row. Follow the column up until you come to a metal tab protruding from a small window slot. Be careful because in some booths, the column makes a diagonal turn as it meets the slot window, putting the slot window at a diagonal. This makes it harder to follow the column up, but easier for you to write in the name. Push that metal tab upwards. There will be a slight resistance. Remember, as you push up on the tab, the voting machine is locking the lower levers so you can't vote twice. When you are through writing in the name and any identifying info that you feel is pertinent, close the slot window. You are now free to vote in the other races as you would normally.
If you run into trouble or are unsure of yourself (and this is why you're practicing now when you don't need to do a write-in vote), remember that you can ask for assistance from the election inspector standing outside of the booth. If you do ask for help, stick your head outside of the curtain to get his attention. DO NOT PULL THE LEVER THAT OPENS THE CURTAIN. Once you open the curtain, your voting is considered over with, whether you actually finished or not.
It's interesting to note that every few years, some State Senator or Assemblyman proposes that a last row be added to all offices in the voting booth. This row would bear the name "None of the Above" and is supposed to let voters show their dissatisfaction with the candidates listed. To me, this just shows a lack of understanding of the voting process since the procedure for doing this already exists with the use of the write-in vote.
That's all there is to the process. So, make this your practice year and cast your first write-in ballot.
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