Write-in CandidatesGeneral

Section § 8600

Explanation

If you want to run as a write-in candidate in an election and have your name counted, you need to file certain paperwork. First, submit a statement of write-in candidacy, including your name, address, a declaration of your candidacy, the office you're seeking, your party preference if it's a primary, the election date, and a voter registration history for the past ten years if applicable. Also, if the office you’re running for has specific requirements, state that you meet them. Second, you'll need to gather the necessary signatures on nomination papers as required for the position.

However, you cannot run as a write-in candidate for certain offices in the general election once they have a nominated candidate.

Every person who desires to be a write-in candidate and have his or her name as written on the ballot of an election counted for a particular office shall file:
(a)CA Elections Code § 8600(a) A statement of write-in candidacy that contains the following information:
(1)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(1) Candidate’s name.
(2)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(2) Residence address.
(3)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(3) A declaration stating that he or she is a write-in candidate.
(4)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(4) The title of the office for which he or she is running.
(5)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(5) The party nomination which he or she seeks, if running in a partisan primary election.
(6)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(6) The date of the election.
(7)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(7) A certification of the candidate’s complete voter registration and party affiliation/preference history for the preceding 10 years, or for as long as he or she has been eligible to vote in the state if less than 10 years, if running for a voter-nominated office.
(8)CA Elections Code § 8600(a)(8) For any of the offices described in Section 13.5, a statement that the candidate meets the statutory and constitutional requirements for that office as described in that section.
(b)CA Elections Code § 8600(b) The requisite number of signatures on the nomination papers, if any, required pursuant to Sections 8062, 10220, and 10510, or, in the case of a special district not subject to the Uniform District Election Law (Part 4 (commencing with Section 10500) of Division 10), the number of signatures required by the principal act of the district.
(c)CA Elections Code § 8600(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may not be a write-in candidate at the general election for a voter-nominated office.
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Section § 8601

Explanation

If you want to run as a write-in candidate for an election, you can get the necessary nomination forms starting 57 days before the election. You must submit these forms to the appropriate election official by no later than 14 days before the election.

The statement and nomination papers shall be available on the 57th day prior to the election for which the candidate is filing as a write-in candidate, and shall be delivered to the elections official responsible for the conduct of the election no later than the 14th day prior to the election.
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Section § 8602

Explanation

This law states that the nomination papers for someone running as a write-in candidate need to be very similar to the format described in another section, specifically Section 8041.

The nomination papers for a write-in candidate shall be substantially in the same form as set forth in Section 8041.
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Section § 8603

Explanation

If you're signing nomination papers for a write-in candidate, you must be a voter in the area where the candidate is running.

If the candidate is running for a party nomination, you also need to be affiliated with that party.

Signers of nomination papers for write-in candidates shall be voters in the district or political subdivision in which the candidate is to be voted on. In addition, if the candidate is seeking a party nomination for an office, the signers shall also be affiliated with the party whose nomination is sought.
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Section § 8604

Explanation

If you're a write-in candidate, you don't have to pay any fees, unless you're running for a city office, which is explained in another section.

No fee or charge shall be required of a write-in candidate except in the case of a candidate for city office, as provided in Section 10228.
write-in candidate candidate fees city office election ...

Section § 8605

Explanation

If someone writes in a candidate's name on a ballot during the primary election, that person can only appear on the general election ballot under certain conditions. First, for a partisan office, they must have got votes equal to 1% of the votes cast for that office in the last election, or for a new office, 1% of the votes from the least voted office last time. Second, they can be an independent nominee. Lastly, if it's for a voter-nominated office, they must have received either the most or the second most votes in the primary, unless specific exceptions apply.

No person whose name has been written in upon a ballot for an office at the direct primary may have his or her name placed upon the ballot as a candidate for that office for the ensuing general election unless one of the following is applicable:
(a)CA Elections Code § 8605(a) At that direct primary he or she received for a partisan office votes equal in number to 1 percent of all votes cast for the office at the last preceding general election at which the office was filled. In the case of an office that has not appeared on the ballot since its creation, the requisite number of votes shall equal 1 percent of the number of all votes cast for the office that had the least number of votes in the most recent general election in the jurisdiction in which the write-in candidate is seeking office.
(b)CA Elections Code § 8605(b) He or she is an independent nominee for a partisan office pursuant to Part 2 (commencing with Section 8300).
(c)CA Elections Code § 8605(c) At that direct primary he or she received for a voter-nominated office the highest number of votes cast for that office or the second highest number of votes cast for that office, except as provided by subdivision (b) of Section 8142 or Section 8807.
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Section § 8606

Explanation

This law states that during a general election in California, you cannot run as a write-in candidate for a voter-nominated office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may not be a write-in candidate at the general election for a voter-nominated office.
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