The ABC's of writing in a vote
The key is keeping the numbers straight By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

PHOTO BY ROB PRICE Allan Johnson, Steuben county Democratic Commissioner of Elections, points out the row of slots available at the top of avoting machine for write-in votes.

What happens when you enter the voting booth on Election Day, scan the names of candidates, and don't see anyone you want elected?

The answer, according to the Steuben County Board of Elections, lies at the top of the voting machine, where a row of covered slots extends from one side of the machine to the other. The slots are for write-in candidates - people whose names don't appear on the printed ballot, but whom voters would like to see in office anyway.

Casting a write-in vote is not difficult, according to Allan Johnson, a commissioner with the Steuben County Board of Elections. Election inspectors are available at every polling station to answer questions about writing in a vote, although they are not permitted to volunteer the information. A Republican and Democratic inspector may even enter the voting booth - together - if the voter asks for their help in writing in a candidate.

Want to keep it private? Step One: Johnson stresses voters interested in casting a write-in vote must use the slot whose number corresponds with the number that appears on the vertical column containing the names of candidates for a particular office.

For example, a voter in the Town of A may want to cast a write-in vote for the position of town supervisor. The list of candidates for the position appear in a vertical column numbered "3." In order to cast a write-in vote, the voter must slide back the cover over the number "3" slot at the top of the machine.

Johnson stressed it's important to match the numbers; the write-in slots don't always appear directly over the corresponding candidates' column.

Step Two: It's important to write in the candidate's full name. A single name - "Frank" or "Jones" - cannot be counted as a vote. Nicknames should not be used, and if the candidate's name includes a suffix - "junior" or "senior," for example - it should be included.

Johnson cautioned a voter should slide back the write-in slot cover only if they know they want to cast a write-in vote. Once the cover is retracted, it cannot be replaced; not can the voter flip a switch for a candidate in the corresponding row.

Step Three: Finish voting without trying to close the slot and throw the lever to open the curtains. The lever action will close the write-in slot for the next voter who doesn't like what they see on the ballot.