Politics & Government
Declaring as a Write-In Candidate Not Enough in Granby Election
Candidates must follow a process, registrar says, in order to earn votes.
Voting may be the most important constitutional right and U.S. citizens are free to use – or not use – that right in any way they see fit. And most people will tell you, when asked, that right includes be able to write in the candidate of your choice.
“You could write in Mickey Mouse,” is the most common response given.
Except, that is not exactly the case in Connecticut.
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While a voter is free to write in any name on a ballot, thereby signifying her support for that person – say Mickey Mouse, she can’t really vote for him unless Mickey has first registered with the Secretary of State and been authorized as a candidate.
It’s not as simple as many imagine.
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And not as simple as Danielle Sandridge believed when she threw her hat into the ring in the race for a seat on the Granby Board of Education.
Sandridge, who has been an advocate of the school district’s world language program and has diligently attended school board meetings for years, had no trouble gaining support for her run.
It would likely have been plenty of support to gain her recognition as a candidate - write-in or otherwise, said Granby Registrar of Voters Laura Wolf.
“It is very disappointing to me that Danielle didn’t officially declare her candidacy but at this point, to throw your hat in the ring two weeks before the election, is too late,” Wolf said. “She hasn’t completed the process, hasn’t been vetted by them.”
The reason for the state regulation, Wolfe explained, may have to do with the way write-in votes are tallied in Connecticut. First, ballot machines cannot read write-in votes; so write-in votes must be hand counted by poll workers at the end of the night. Second, moderators must ensure all votes are counted once the polls close and they cannot leave until they’re finished.
“Particularly in large cities, I’m sure you can imagine there might be dozens of people,” Wolfe said. “If you have a large number of write-in candidates, you have thousands of votes to hand count at the end of the night.”
Wolfe said to get on the ballot is a relatively simple process – as long as you’re not petitioning to be recognized as a Republican or Democratic candidate. To be certified as a write-in candidate is even easier, she said, with a simple form and a deadline of Oct. 22.
This year in Granby, five candidates pursued the process to get on the ballot on the Independent line.
Those candidates needed fewer than 50 signatures, Wolfe said.
“It’s not that they’re trying to make it difficult. I think Connecticut has one of the most open processes of any state to get on the ballot.”
As for the votes that will be cast in support of Sandridge, Wolfe said the moderator may choose to tally them simply to honor the intent of those voters.
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