write-in

Deverbal from write in. So called because anybody wishing to vote for such a candidate must explicitly write the candidate's name on the ballot.

write-in (plural write-ins) (often attributive)

1. (politics) A candidate whose name is not listed on the ballot.
   • 2019 February 19, Jeremy Pelzer, “Youngstown School Board member Dario Hunter seeks Green Party presidential nomination”, in cleveland.com‎:

     He won a write-in campaign for Youngstown school board in 2015; he joined the Green Party last year.

2. (politics) A vote made for a candidate of this kind.

• inwrite