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Write-In Candidate Requirements
For All 2004
June Primary and November General Election Candidates
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WHO
IS A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE?
A
"write-in candidate" is a person:
- Whose
name is not printed on the ballot; and
- Who
otherwise fulfills the qualifications for the office designated; and
- Who
receives one or more valid write-in votes for an office listed on
a primary, general or special election ballot; and
- Who
has filed a "Declaration of Write-in Candidacy" either before the
election or no later than 3 business days after the election. Declaration
forms are available from the Department of the Secretary of State,
Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions. Telephone:
(207) 624-7650.
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Declaration
of Write-In Candidacy Forms: click on the appropriate link below
for the Declaration of Write-in Candidacy Form for either the Primary
or the General Election.
| The
Declaration of Write-in Candidacy forms are available in a "fillable"
format through Adobe Acrobat (PDF). You will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader 5.0 to use them.
Click here to download the free Acrobat Reader.
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November
2, 2004 General Election Forms
ENROLLMENT
QUALIFICATIONS OF A
PRIMARY WRITE-IN CANDIDATE
The candidate must
be enrolled, on or before March 15, 2004, in the party in which the
candidate is seeking a write-in nomination; and
The candidate must meet the same qualifications as a candidate filing
a petition for nomination by primary election under Title 21-A, Maine
Law on Elections, §144.3 (by filing an application to change
enrollment, if applicable, prior to January 1, 2004).
PARTY
NAME OR DESIGNATION
OF A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE
For the Primary
Election, the candidate must indicate which party's nomination
the candidate is seeking by checking the appropriate box.
For the
General Election, the candidate may indicate a party or political
designation by writing that party or political designation in the
appropriate space on the Declaration of Write-in Candidacy. The candidate
may write in the name of a qualified party (Democratic, Green Independent,
or Republican) or choose a political designation which may not exceed
3 words in length, and may not incorporate the candidate's name, or
the designation or an abbreviation of the designation of a party that
is qualified to nominate candidates by primary election, and may not
consist of or comprise language that is obscene or violates any other
provision of Maine law with respect to names. A candidate who intends
to form a new party about that person's candidacy must use the proposed
party's designation.
HOW
DOES A VOTER CAST A WRITE-IN VOTE?
- A
voter must mark the write-in indicator (square, oval or arrow)
as instructed on the ballot; AND
- The
voter must also write the name and municipality of residence in
the blank space provided at the end of the list of candidates
for that office; OR
- For
a Primary Election Only, the voter may paste a sticker on
the ballot containing the name and municipality of residence of
the write-in candidate. A sticker is an adhesive label, bearing
the required information. Stickers used with automatic tabulating
equipment should be prepared in accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications for that equipment. Contact the Department of the
Secretary of State for additional information.
MINIMUM
NUMBER OF VOTES NEEDED
For
a Primary Election: the number of valid write-in votes must be
equal to at least twice the minimum number of signatures required
on a primary petition for that office. If more than one person receives
the minimum number of write-in votes for an office, the person receiving
the greatest number of votes is nominated.
For
a General Election: the person receiving the greatest number of
votes is elected.
     
      
© Department
of the Secretary of State
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