Remember, if your name is appearing on the ballot as “John Q. Smith”, be sure that your website and promotional materials match consistently. This helps build name brand identification, avoid voter confusion, and in the case of write-in ballots, voters are more likely to use the correct version of your name.
When selecting a ballot name, go with the name that people know best. That means avoiding middle names or initials, unless they are regularly used in your professional or political work. In one local campaign, a candidate first announced her campaign with her first and last name. In the first mailing that went out, a middle name was added. Finally, by the end of the campaign, the name had morphed to first, middle and a hyphenated last name. In the case of a write-in vote, things could get confusing.
Finally, make sure that your ballot name is properly spelled on all election materials, including the absentee ballots. Things might not work out as amicably as this candidate name misspelling.
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Tags: ballots, campaign promotion, campaign tips, local campaigns