Primary definition
A type of contest option that allows a voter to specify a candidate , usually not already listed as a contest option. Depending on election jurisdiction rules, in some cases only previously approved names will be considered as valid write-in contest selections .
Also known aswrite-in candidate · write-in vote · write-in ballot · write-in selection
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
— NIST Election GlossaryView source
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NIST
A type of contest option that allows a voter to specify a candidate , usually not already listed as a contest option. Depending on election jurisdiction rules, in some cases only previously approved names will be considered as valid write-in contest selections .
NIST Election Glossary · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Write In Option. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 20, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/write-in-option
Sources
1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026
01
NIST Election Glossary
NIST Election Glossary
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