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Meaning & use

write-in candidate

noun·AdvancedAmerican

Last updated

UK/ˈraɪt ɪn ˌkændɪdət/
US/ˈraɪt ɪn ˌkændɪdət/

Meanings

  1. nouncountableAmerican

    A person who is not printed on the ballot but is voted for by having their name written on the ballot by the voter.

    Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or a plural. It is often used after 'as' or 'for'.

    Patterns

    • run as a write-in candidate
    • vote for a write-in candidate
    • a write-in candidate for something

    She entered the race late and ran as a write-in candidate.

    Many voters chose the write-in candidate even though his name was not on the ballot.

    The write-in candidate received enough votes to win the primary.

  2. nouncountableAmerican

    A candidate in an election whose name voters must add themselves rather than find on the official list.

    Grammar: Countable and often used in news reports about elections.

    Patterns

    • a write-in candidate for president
    • support a write-in candidate

    The mayor was re-elected as a write-in candidate after losing the party primary.

    Write-in candidates rarely win, but they can affect the result.

Word forms

pluralwrite-in candidates

Common combinations

run as a write-in candidate
He decided to run as a write-in candidate after the deadline.
vote for a write-in candidate
You can vote for a write-in candidate by writing the name on the line.
a write-in candidate for mayor
She was a write-in candidate for mayor in the last election.
write-in campaign
The write-in campaign surprised everyone by getting thousands of votes.
qualified write-in candidate
Some states require a write-in candidate to register before the election.

Synonyms and how they differ

independent candidate
This means someone not belonging to a major party, but their name is usually printed on the ballot, unlike a write-in candidate.
protest vote
This is a vote against the main choices, not a type of candidate; a write-in candidate may receive protest votes.

Word family

write in phrasal verb
To add a name to a ballot by writing it.
write-in adjective
Used before a noun, as in 'write-in vote'.

Commonly confused: write-in candidate or write in?

write-in candidate vs write in

This is the verb phrase meaning to write a name on a ballot; 'write-in candidate' is the person.

Practice

Because his name was not printed on the ballot, he campaigned as a ______.

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