Write in Voting

[??????????]

If I cast my vote for electors

George W. Bush President
Joeseph Lieberman Vice-President

Will my vote for Bush count?

[ericadler]

I'm half tempted to write in Joe Lieberman for president.  I'm really not that impressed with either candidate.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I'm sure it depends on the state.  Does Florida require write-in candidates to register?  

[??????????]

I'm sure it depends on the state.  Does Florida require write-in candidates to register?  

I have no idea. I don't even know where to begin to look for that kind of information.

[Dave Leip]

Generally speaking, most states have adopted the policy of counting write-in ballots only for registered write-in candidates.  These will typically be third party candidates that didn't make the ballot.  Florida has this rule.  If you wish to lodge a protest vote, I recommend against voting a write-in and instead voting for a third-party candidate.  Also, in Nevada, you have the option of choosing "None of these Candidates".

[??????????]

I went to www.votehillsborough.org and it said that Joe Lieberman was on registered (as well as all the democratic nominees) but was not yet qualified, as were none of the other candidates including George W. Bush. I guess they haven't gotten around to processing all the papers or are waiting for the conventions. The senate candidates are already qualified.

[classical liberal]

Candidates have to be officially nominated by the parties that they represent to qualify.  For national candidates that happens at the conventions.  Even though both conventions are happening too late to qualify on most state ballots, the Democratic and Republican parties have given themselves wavers in every statee since one of thee two controls each state's government.  It would be funny to see none of the states with Democratic control give wavers to the Republicans; George Bush the Republican wouldn't even be on the ballot in those states.  Who controls each legislature anyways?

Nader is running without a party so he doesn't have to wait for a convention to get on the ballot although without a party organization to vouch for him he'll have a hell of a time finding enough signatures to get on the ballot.