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write-in candidate

Cultural  
  1. A candidate for public office whose name does not appear on the ballot (usually because he or she has not secured the nomination of a political party) but whose name must be written on the ballot by voters.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She decided to run anyway, as a write-in candidate.

From The Wall Street Journal May 28, 2026

Later that year, the then-32-year-old Devine challenged O’Neill as a write-in candidate.

From Salon Feb. 27, 2024

Mr. Phillips won 20 percent of the vote in New Hampshire, which Mr. Biden won as a write-in candidate, and then placed third behind the self-help author Marianne Williamson in South Carolina.

From New York Times Feb. 6, 2024

In addition to the candidates listed below, Janie Dam has qualified as a write-in candidate.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 1, 2024

Instead, his supporters are backing him as a write-in candidate.

From Seattle Times Jan. 23, 2024

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