A Write-In Campaign in Alabama? There's Something You Should Know

image
Published: 17 Nov, 2017
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
2 min read

There are some Alabama voters who are considering writing in a candidate in the upcoming special Senate election. These voters are concerned about multiple allegations that GOP candidate Roy Moore sexually harassed and abused minors when he was a local district attorney.

But there is something voters should know about how write-in campaigns work in Alabama. Write-in campaigns are already a long shot, but voters could be dissuaded even more when they are faced with the reality that their vote may not even be counted.

State law says write-in ballots are only counted if it is determined that they could make a difference in the election. If the number of write-in ballots cast exceeds the difference between the two major party candidates, the secretary of state could ask that the ballots be counted.

Democrats are salivating at the prospect that they could weaken the Republican Party's majority in the Senate in a race that was all, but safe for the Republican candidate. But it might not be so easy as state law forces voters to choose between the Republican and Democrat on the ticket out of fear their vote won't count any other way.

Despite calls from the establishment wing in the national party, Roy Moore has remained defiant. He will not drop out of the race, and rejects the accusations against him -- calling them an attack on his Christian, conservative ideals.

And while national Republicans are asking him to drop out -- even thinking of ways to salvage the seat like asking Luther Strange to resign to trigger another special election (can't make that up), Moore has the continued support of the state party. He also maintains support from his biggest fans:

https://twitter.com/skibo2412_matt/status/931526921682374656

https://twitter.com/SERD1983/status/930808294809227264

https://twitter.com/skibo2412_matt/status/931535865494560768

IVP Donate

Public opinion polls are of little help to forecast the race. The latest Fox News poll has Democrat Doug Jones leading by 8 points, while other polls have Roy Moore still leading by as much as 10 points. The election is scheduled for December 12.

Photo Source: AP

Latest articles

US map divided in blue and red with a white ballot box on top.
Could Maine Be the First State to Exit the National Popular Vote Compact?
On May 20, the Maine House of Representatives voted 76–71 to withdraw the state from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), reversing course just over a year after Maine became the 17th jurisdiction to join the agreement....
04 Jun, 2025
-
3 min read
New York City
Nine Democrats Face Off in NYC Mayoral Debate as Ranked Choice Voting, Cuomo Probe, and Independent Bid from Adams Reshape the Race
A crowded field of nine Democratic candidates will take the stage tonight, June 4, in the first official debate of the 2025 New York City mayoral primary. Held at NBC’s 30 Rock studios and co-sponsored by the city’s Campaign Finance Board, NBC 4 New York, Telemundo 47, and POLITICO New York, the debate comes at a pivotal moment in a race already shaped by political upheaval, criminal investigations, and the unique dynamics of ranked choice voting....
04 Jun, 2025
-
6 min read
Elderly woman sitting in wheelchair staring out window.
Three Reps Put Party Labels Aside to Strengthen U.S. Role in Global Fight Against Alzheimer’s
Two California members of Congress, Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Young Kim (R-CA-40), introduced a bill Wednesday with Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick aimed at bolstering the US's global role in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease. ...
04 Jun, 2025
-
3 min read