Libby Casey, APRN – Washington DC
Lisa Murkowski officially filed to run a write-in campaign for U.S. Senate on Wednesday. She submitted her declaration of candidacy to the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage. Murkowski filed her paperwork in advance of the absentee and early voting in the state, but candidates have all the way up to five days before election day to become a write in candidate. She’s listed as “Lisa Murkowski” and did not file any other monikers or nicknames with the Division of Elections.
In order for write-in ballots to be counted, voters have to not only write in the name of their candidate but fill in the oval next to that line. Murkowski’s campaign has asked the Division of Elections for clear rules about what will count as a spelling of her name. Both the Division’s director Gail Fenumiai and Lieutenant Governor Craig Campbell have said voter intent would likely be important, but have not given specific parameters for just how accurate a spelling would have to be.
Murkowski’s main opponents are Joe Miller, who defeated her in the Republican primary, and Democrat Scott McAdams.
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