RICE LAKE, Wis. (WJMC) — There are only write-in candidates for all four city council districts in Rice Lake.
Barron County Clerk Jessica Hodek says this is a very unique scenario, because no candidate registered by the February 18 deadline to get their name on the ballot.
“Write-in candidates and registered write-in candidates are two totally different things when it comes to ballots. Since there are no ballot candidates for any of the four races in the city council, every write-in is going to be counted,” Hodek explained.
“So whether you are a registered write-in and you file your paperwork with city hall, or you are ‘Jessica Hodek’ writing herself in, every single one will be counted since there are no ballot candidates.”
Non-registered write-in candidates are not listed individually and simply grouped as “Scattering” on election night results reported by the county.
Hodek says voters can ask to see a list of registered write-in candidates before casting their ballot.
Only District 1 and District 2 have more than one candidate registered. Registered write-in candidates are, for District 1, Dutch Beckett or Abbey Fischer; for District 2, Gina Sookyiak or Eric Pelle; for District 3, Steve Bowman; and for District 4, David Puthoff.
To listen to the full interview with Hodek and hear more about how write-in candidates are counted in this election, click here.