Campaign 2000:
How to Cast a Write-in Vote

Greens Are Not On The Ballot, But You Can Write Them In

As you probably know, the Green Party was not able to get our regular candidates onto Georgia's 2000 election ballot (Jeff Gates is on the ballot for the special Senate election, which had no petition requirements). However, if we can get 40,000 write-in votes for the Green Presidential Slate of Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke on November 7th, then the Georgia Green Party will be on the ballot for the 2002 state-wide elections. It is thus doubly important that on November 7th, we WRITE IN the Green Party candidates and the offices they seek.

Please read all of the instructions, since the state seems to have gone out of its way to make write-in votes difficult to cast. You must follow the directions exactly to make sure your vote is counted. After reading the directions, you can print out this abbreviated version of the instructions to take with you when you go to the polls.

It's This Way, Or The Highway

On write-in ballots, the correct wording must be used, or the vote for this office will not count. The candidate's name and the office must both be given exactly as they are shown below. Also remember that if more than one candidate is chosen, as by choosing both a candidate already on the ballot and also doing a write-in, the vote for this office will not count.

In order for our write-in votes to be counted, you must write the following information on the ballot exactly as it appears below. We'll cover where to write it in a minute. Copy this information down to take with you. If you can, print this page and take it along. The Georgia Green write-in candidates who are running for election on Tuesday, November 7, 2000 follow.

To write in Ralph Nader for President, write this exactly:
Ralph Nader for President of the United States

For Vice President:
Winona LaDuke for Vice President of the United States

If you live in one of the following House Districts, then write in the appropriate line for your district:
Kerrie Dickson for State Representative, 8th District
Rovene Askren for State Representative, 109th District
Zack Lyde for State Representative, 173rd District

Now That I Know What To Write, Where Do I Write It?

Another complication is the fact that there are several different voting methods used throughout Georgia, and each one has a different method of writing in candidates. Please follow this link to find out the exact procedure on How to Cast a Write-in Vote in Your County. If you have questions, please call the Georgia Green Party at 770-635-3496.

It's The Law, And It's A Good One!

You have both a constitutional and statutory right to cast a vote by write-in. (See Constitution of Georgia, Article II, Section I., Paragraph II. and O.C.G.A. 21-2-358 ). The Supreme Court of Georgia has ruled:

" . . . the individual elector has the unshackled right to write on the ballot any person he wishes to vote for, and can not be restricted to a choice between those whose names are provided on the ballot."

Thompson v Willson (223 Ga. 373) 1969.