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A '''write-in candidate''' is a candidate for public office who name does not appear on a [[election]] ballot and must be written in by voters.<ref> Word Net, Princeton University, [http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=write-in%20candidate]</reF> Write-in candidates rarely succeed in winning elections because of the disadvantage of not having their name on the ballot.<ref>[http://www.recordernewspapers.com/articles/2007/09/26/madison_eagle/news/doc46fb2d415ab45262018563.txt Write-in out in cold in forums], Madison Eagle (Newspaper), September 27, 2007</ref>
Some political candidates are forced to run as write-in candidates due to a late dropout of the planned Party candidate. One such example can be seen in the 2006 representative race between [[Republican]] [[Majority Leader]] [[Tom DeLay]] and [[Democrat]] candidate [[Nick Lampson]]. DeLay was forced to step out of the race because of allegations of illegal [[gerrymandering]] and was replaced by Republican [[Shelley Sekula-Gibbs]]. Becouse of Sekula-Gibbs late entrance into the race, she was forced to become a write-in candidate. Although election polls had both candidates closely tied, Nick Lampson went on to win the election.<ref>[http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2006/11/08/Election2006/Democrat.Nick.Lampson.To.Take.Over.Former.House.Majority.Leader.Tom.Delays.Distr-2446466.shtmlM "Democrat Nick Lampson to take over former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's District 22 seat"], The Daily Texan, Brad Gray, November 2006</ref><ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/30/politics/main2136400.shtml</ref>
[[Green Party]] and independet candidate [[Ralph Nader]] ran as a write-in candidate in the 1992 presidential election.
[[Category: Politics]]