SB85 Summary

• Write-in candidates must register with the Secretary of State or judge of probate within 90 days prior to the election to have votes counted in non-municipal general elections.

• Write-in candidates must comply with the Fair Campaign Practices Act and the State Ethics Law in order to have their votes counted.

• A valid write-in vote requires the voter to both write the candidate's name on the ballot and mark a designated space for that office; votes not meeting both requirements shall not be counted.

• If a voter marks a ballot for a regular candidate and then writes in another name for the same office without marking the write-in space, the regular vote shall be counted and the write-in shall be disregarded.

• Properly registered write-in votes that cause an over-vote shall be treated as any other over-vote with no votes counted for that office, though the remainder of the ballot shall be counted.