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• write-in
  write-in

  noun

  a candidate or vote for a candidate not listed on the printed ballot but written onto it by the voter.
• write in
  write in

  verb

  to insert in (a document, form, etc) in writing

write-in

American  

[rahyt-in] / ˈraɪtˌɪn /

noun

1. a candidate or vote for a candidate not listed on the printed ballot but written onto it by the voter.

   Write-ins may swing the election.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or for such a candidate or vote or a ballot so marked.

   a write-in campaign.

write in British  

verb

1. to insert in (a document, form, etc) in writing

2. (adverb) to write a letter to a company, institution, etc

3. (adverb)

   1. to vote for (a person not on a ballot) by writing in his name

   2. to cast (a vote) for such a person by writing in his name

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noun

1. the act of voting for a person by writing his name on a ballot

2. a candidate or vote that has been written in

3. ( as modifier )

   a write-in campaign

write in Idioms  

1. Cast a vote by inserting a name not listed on the ballot, as in He asked them to write in his name as a candidate . [c. 1930]

2. Insert in a text or document, as in Please don't write in your corrections on the printed pages, but list them separately . [Late 1300s]

3. Communicate with an organization by mail, as in Listeners are being asked to write in their requests . [1920s]

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Etymology

Origin of write-in

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

East San Fernando Valley incumbent Kelly Gonez faces one challenger, Jose Sagredo, who, as a write-in candidate, will not even have his name on the ballot.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Polling is taking place in three phases spread over a month, using new electronic voting machines which do not allow write-in candidates or spoiled ballots.

From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025

Liebling, who covered it for the New York World-Telegram, he sought the “cultural write-in vote.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Voters were asked to fill out a write-in ballot due to the unusually high number of candidates.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2025

Karen talked about write-in candidates, which is when the person who votes can write in the name of someone who hasn’t been officially nominated.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Related Words

• copy
• document
• file
• list
• log
• mark
• post
• register
• report
• videotape