Write-in Votes

According to Voter Registrar Sheri Iachetta, for the City of Charlottesville:

If someone chooses not to vote for one of the Senate candidates but would like to vote on the other race and the 4 questions then there would be an undervote in the Senate race but all of the other races would count. The ballot would NOT be "tossed out".

If one chooses to write-in a name for either of the races then they would go through this process (in the city of Charlottesville):

Using the Select wheel, scroll down the screen to the word write-in and press enter. Once the alphabet screen appears, then continue using the select wheel moving to the letters that are needed to spell out the write-in name and press the enter button. Once the name is finished then you scroll to the bottom of the screen and press "accept". This will take you back to the ballot screen and you will see the name in the write-in space. It will also appear on the Ballot Summary Screen.

According to former Voter Registrar Jim Heilman, for the County of Albemarle:

Instructions for writing in are on the face of the machine. If one chooses to write in a name, follow this process:

For each office, below the candidate names (and their corresponding squares) you will see the word "write-in." Push the square next to it. This will activiate the write-in keypad at the bottom of the machine. Simply type in the name you want. There is a "forward arrow" key for making sapces, and a "backward arrow" key for correcting your typing. A small LCD display shows you what you have typed. After you have typed in the name, press the "enter" button that is part of the keypad. Note: This is a different button from the "CAST VOTE" button. Don't press the CAST VOTE button until you have finished voting for everything that you want to vote for.

Youth Leadership Initiative Mock Vote

In the Youth Leadership Initiative Mock Vote, John Warner received 62.38%, Jacob Hornberger, Jr. received 13.72%, Nancy Spannaus received 20.24%, with a write-in of 3.66%.

Francis Fife

George --

EVERYONE should write in the name of their pick for U.S. Senate. For those who have never done it, let me say that writing in your own candidate is both easy and fun. In fact, in some ways, I look back on my write-in votes as the ones I have enjoyed the most.

There is real value to writing in someone in this race. It is appalling that we were unable to come up with a candidate willing to take on John Warner, whose platform is, basically, the twin Republican themes of "I support the President, especially if we get to go to war" and "The problem with the United States is that rich people don't have enough money." Writing someone in at least sends the message that there are some people left who don't agree with that.

But who?

I nominate Francis Fife for U.S. Senate. (I can't tell you how much I enjoyed writing that sentence.) In contrast to Senator Warner (not to mention Galloping George Allen), Francis Fife is a serious person who would actually try to act responsibly on behalf of the people of our community and our state. What a change that would be. His name is also short and easy to spell, so he is an ideal write-in candidate. So I nominate Francis.

(About Francis. Naturally, I do not mean "solemn". Francis has one of the great Charlottesville laughs and a wonderful sense of fun. What I mean is that, in comparison to Warner and Allen, Francis is, well, a grown-up. As I said, that would be a refeshing change.)

I am sure that others will have other nominees, and I look forward to hearing from them.

Ed Wayland (electronic mail, October 29, 2002)

George,

I intend to write in Francis Fife, a Southern Gentleman with a progressive vision.

Jack Marshall (electronic mail, October 29, 2002)

Alexis Ziegler or Fred Damon/ No Make That Francis Fife

George,

I understand that Alexis Ziegler is willing to be written in. He is a bicycle activist. I also suggest Fred Damon. He is such a political animal.

Nancy Damon (electronic mail, October 28, 2002)

George,

Fred and I have considered this carefully. We had not realized that Francis Fife would be a possible write-in. We feel Francis epitomizes what we would seek in a Senator -- thoughtful, well-informed, very progressive, articulate, and a person who has done political battle for decades.

Fred Damon hereby requests that any votes which might have been cast for him be given to Francis Fife, one of our heroes.

Nancy Damon (electronic mail, November 3, 2002)