Write-ins don't win often -- it can be done
By TUCKER LYON, T&D Government Writer Tuesday, November 06, 2007South Carolina's own legendary senator, the late Strom Thurmond, holds the distinction of being the first person in U.S. history to be elected to a major office by write-in ballot.
That was in 1954, when Thurmond waged a successful write-in campaign against Democrat Edgar Brown in the special primary to fill the unexpired term of the late Sen. Burnet Maybank.
While not the conventional way to win election -- when your name is not even on the ballot -- it can be done.
Just ask Vance Mayor Vernell Wright, who defeated a two-term incumbent to win office handily in 2005. Or, Leila Brown, a write-in candidate for Seat 5 on the Denmark-Olar School District 2 Board in 2003. She nudged out the incumbent to win her seat by just one vote.
Tuesday's non-partisan municipal election includes two write-in candidates for mayor in Springfield and Neeses.
The Springfield race for mayor is between Councilwoman Marilyn Owens McCormick and write-in challenger Councilman Dickie Phillips, a former mayor.
In Neeses, Councilman Joseph Corbett is facing a write-in challenge from Michael Hyman, a former member of council.
Only the names of McCormick and Corbett will be on the respective ballots in Springfield and Neeses.
Orangeburg County registration and election assistant Pam McArthur described the process to select a write-in candidate. The voter chooses the "Write In Area" on the voting machine screen. Once a keyboard appears, the voter types in the person's name and then chooses the "Accept" button. The ballot screen returns and the voter can see the candidate's name displayed in the Write In Area.
Spelling doesn't have to be correct and any derivative of a name can be used. For example, if Elizabeth Jones is a write-in candidate, "Betty Jones" or "Elizabeth Joenes" would be counted.
"If we can tell the voter's intent, the vote is cast for (the person) the voter has selected," McArthur said. "Only in the case of an over vote would neither candidate receive a vote."
An over-vote is when a person votes for both the candidate on the ballot and writes in a candidate's name at the same time.
If the voter needs help, McArthur said, he should raise his hand and two poll managers will approach the booth or machine and assist the voter.
T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-533-5545.
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