To write in a candidate in Texas, mark the “Write-in” box or button next to the race on your ballot and print the person’s name in the space provided. The vote will only be counted, though, if that person filed a Declaration of Write-In Candidacy before the deadline. Names that aren’t on the official declared write-in list are ignored when ballots are tallied, so the single most useful thing you can do before election day is look up who has actually filed for your races.
Only Declared Write-Ins Are Counted
Texas election law lets you write in a name when your preferred person isn’t printed on the ballot,1State of Texas. Texas Election Code 146.001 – Write-In Votes Permitted but officials only count the vote if the candidate filed a Declaration of Write-In Candidacy with the appropriate filing authority.2State of Texas. Texas Election Code 146.023 – Declaration of Write-In Candidacy Required Writing in a neighbor, a relative, or a public figure who never filed will not show up in the results for anyone. The name goes on the ballot; the vote goes nowhere.
This is where most write-in plans quietly fail. The act of writing feels like it counts. In Texas, it doesn’t, unless the person went through the formal filing process.
Elections Where You Cannot Write In a Candidate
Write-in voting is the default in general elections for state and county offices and in most local elections for cities, school boards, and other political subdivisions.3Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Procedures for Write-in Candidate in a Local Election1State of Texas. Texas Election Code 146.001 – Write-In Votes Permitted Two types of elections are off-limits:
- Primary elections. Write-in candidates are not part of the primary process in Texas.
- Runoff elections. Write-ins are prohibited in any runoff, whether it follows a primary or a general election.
If you go to a primary or a runoff planning to write someone in, you won’t find a write-in line for those races.
Marking a Write-In on a Paper Ballot
Look for the write-in space at the bottom of each contest. Completely fill in the box or oval next to the words “Write-in,” then print the candidate’s name legibly on the line above or beside it.4Lubbock County, TX Elections. How to Mark a Ballot by Mail Both steps matter. A name without the filled box, or a filled box without a name, may not be counted. Copy the name exactly as it appears on the declared write-in list for your race.
Marking a Write-In on an Electronic Machine
On a touchscreen, select the “Write-in” option for the contest. A virtual keyboard will come up. Type the candidate’s full name, then press “Accept” or the equivalent confirm button. Before you cast your ballot, review the summary screen and make sure the name reads correctly; you can go back and fix a write-in entry until you finalize the ballot.
What Happens If You Misspell the Name
You don’t need surgical spelling. Texas law directs that a ballot marked irregularly still be counted when the voter’s intent can be clearly determined.5Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Processing and Counting Write-In Votes Cast on Electronic Voting Systems Any entry that doesn’t exactly match a declared candidate’s name gets flagged for review by the presiding judge at the central count station, who decides whether the voter clearly meant a particular declared candidate.
Small typos and common variants are usually accepted. “Jon” for “John,” a missing middle initial, or a dropped letter is generally an easy call when only one declared candidate could be meant. If the entry is garbled enough that it could point to more than one person, or to no recognizable candidate, the judge can reject it. Copying the name from the declared list removes the guesswork.
How to Check the Declared Write-In List Before You Vote
Once a candidate files a declaration, it becomes public information right away.2State of Texas. Texas Election Code 146.023 – Declaration of Write-In Candidacy Required6Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Procedures for Write-In Candidates in 20263Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Procedures for Write-in Candidate in a Local Election Your county elections office can point you to the right list for each race on your ballot. Verify the exact spelling, note it down, and bring it with you. That one check is the difference between a vote that counts and a vote that vanishes.