Do Political Write-in Candidates Ever Win?

A write-in campaign is a type of election in which people who are not on the ballot can nevertheless make themselves eligible to win by receiving enough valid write-in votes. Write-in campaigns are usually low-budget, grassroots efforts that take place in cases where the original candidate has either died, dropped out of the race, or ran unopposed.

It’s not impossible to win an election as a write-in candidate, but the odds are long. They tend to be more successful on a local or state level. There have only been a handful of congressional elections where a outsider candidate won a general election. It takes money and organization—the same things a regular campaign requires—only you don’t have party backing. The tactic is more likely to succeed in down-ballot elections, where a non-ballot candidate can secure a local primary win before succeeding in a general election.

State rules around this process aren’t uniform. Some places ask write-in candidates to officially declare their intention to run and often submit paperwork to either the state or local election office. Other states are more lenient. They let voters write in the name of virtually anyone, without formal requirements.

The role of write-ins in the election process

Write-in candidates have been part of the U.S. political landscape for a long time. Their impact grew significantly in the early 2000s. In recent times, these types of votes have become a popular way for the electorate to express their dissatisfaction with their choices on the ballot.

Some argue that voting for a write-in candidate is a waste of time or shows a lack of understanding of the process. But in some situations, it proves useful. For example, there could be a scenario where a preferred candidate is left out by the parties. With non-ballot submissions, voters can support their top outside choice, potentially swinging the outcome.

While it’s true that they rarely win, write-in candidates play a crucial role. They often bring attention to key issues that matter to voters. Even if they don’t win, their stance on the issues can shape the dialogue of the other candidates.

Even a presidential candidate can win as a write-in. In March of 2024, President Joe Biden won the New Hampshire Democratic primary after the state was stripped of its delegates by the Democratic National Committee. Voters who wrote in Biden’s name allowed him to beat the other primary candidates.

Winning as a outsider is not easy

To win as a outsider, you need to stand out in the crowd and convince the voters that you’re their best choice. A few things that can help with this:

Be authentic: Show your true colors and be yourself. This will help people connect with you and know what they can expect from you in the future.
Be genuine: If you’re not being genuine, it will show through your speech and body language. People will see right through it and not take what you say seriously.
Be passionate: When it comes to winning as a outsider, passion is key! You need to be 100% invested in what you are doing if you want people to believe in your cause or campaign.
Be a good speaker
Have a strong social media presence
Provide detailed plans and ideas on how to solve problems

The challenges of running a write-in campaign include:

Fundraising difficulties and building a network of viable donors.
Lack of promotion and advertising by the candidate.
Securing volunteers to distribute yard signs, bumper stickers, and other promotional materials to supporters.
Finding volunteers to help with the GOTV effort.
Limited coverage by traditional news outlets, which often focus only on major party candidates.
The candidate’s name, where it may be tricky to pronounce, leading to misspelled votes.

You can grow support by door-to-door canvassing, putting up signs, and running a digital campaign using a campaign website, and online advertising.

Free Digital Campaigning Tips: Subscribe for free political campaign guides and updates.

The process of a write-in campaign involves drafting your letter of intent and submitting it to your local election office. Then, gather signatures from qualified voters in your precinct. Make sure those signing have read and understood the petition.

Write-in votes may be cast improperly for a variety of reasons.

Provide detailed instructions to voters

Now comes the hard part of the process: Making sure that every vote cast for you is properly cast.

The most important part of write-in campaigns is letting the public how to cast a vote for you. Because voting for a candidate not listed on the ballot is different than a typical vote, you must carefully inform voters exactly what they must do so their votes are considered valid. Many states will not count a vote if the candidate’s name is not spelled correctly. Even where the name is written or the sticker is placed on the ballot is critical to casting a proper vote.

With more states voting by mail, these types of unofficial campaigns are becoming more prevalent. This is why it’s important to know the laws and rules – and to convey them properly to your supporters.

So, can you win as a write-in candidate?

Sometimes, a person can win an election without receiving the most votes. In a hotly contested election, there may be three or more candidates, and one who receives the most votes wins.

Sometimes a write-in candidate can even defeat an unopposed incumbent candidate. This is more likely to happen if the incumbent is unpopular.

Local elections can often be won by unlisted candidates because so few people turn out to vote in them. (Though this trend may be reversing.)

But generally, it takes as much effort, if not more, to get enough voters to choose a candidate who is not on the ballot. It may not be easy, but never underestimate determination and planning.

Create an affordable campaign website with Online Candidate. Every election cycle, we assist hundreds of local and grassroots campaigns.