Editing Ballot access (section)

==Write-in status versus ballot access==
{{Main|Write-in candidate}}

Depending on the office and the state, it may be possible for a voter to cast a [[Write-in candidate|write-in]] vote for a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot. It is extremely rare for such a candidate to win office. In some cases, write-in votes are simply not counted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/writing-vote-president-might-not-get-counted|title=Writing in your vote for president? It might not get counted|date=2016-10-31|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us|access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref> Having one's name printed on the ballot confers an enormous advantage over candidates who are not on the ballot. The US Supreme Court has noted that write-in status is not a substitute for being on the ballot.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/460/780/|title=Anderson v. Celebrezze, 460 U.S. 780 (1983)|website=Justia Law|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}}</ref>

The two most notable cases of write-in candidates actually winning are the elections of [[Lisa Murkowski]] in 2010 and [[Strom Thurmond]] in 1954, both to the [[United States Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alaska - Election Results 2010 - The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/alaska.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=www.nytimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Senator Elected on a Write-in Ballot|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Senator_Elected_on_Write_in_Ballot.htm|access-date=2021-09-16|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> Other cases include the election of [[Charlotte Burks]] to the [[Tennessee State Senate]] seat of  her late husband, [[Tommy Burks]], murdered by his [[Byron Looper|only opponent on the ballot]]; and the write-in primary victories in the re-election campaign of Mayor [[Anthony A. Williams]] of the [[District of Columbia]]. All of these cases involved unique political circumstances, a popular and well–known candidate, and a highly organized and well–funded write-in education campaign.