The filing period to be an official write-in candidate closes soon. This is for local races such as city council and county offices.
Deadlines to file paperwork:
– Monterey and San Benito County: October 20
– Santa Cruz County: October 22
Information on how to qualify as a write-in candidate
Votes only count for official write-in candidates.
Monterey County https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/148040
San Benito County
https://www.sanbenitocounty-ca-cre.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/15938/639189473224970000
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Santa Cruz County
https://votescount.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/Howtobeawrite-incandidate.aspx
Monterey County Elections Department states that a person cannot be a write-in candidate for federal and state offices. A person can only be a write-in for city and county offices, as well as state offices that are non-partisan. The county has a list.
https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/government/departments-a-h/elections/elections/11-03-2026-general-election
