Write-Ins & Suspense: Know Before You Vote

Young County voters may want to brush up on two election terms before heading to the polls this fall: “writein” and “suspense.”

Neither is as complicated — or as alarming — as it may sound.

The Nov. 3 general election includes several local declared write-in candidates: Taylor Qualls for Young County judge, Jamie Ward for county clerk, and Brady Rushin, Chad Land and Joshua Gallardo for Precinct 1 justice of the peace, according to Young County Elections Administrator Kaitlyn Mosley.

Unlike candidates whose names are already printed on the ballot, write-in candidates require voters to do a little typing.

On Young County’s Verity Duo voting machines, voters who want to support a declared write-in candidate should select the “Write-in” option in the appropriate race, type the candidate’s name using the on-screen keyboard and then select “Accept.”

The machine will then display the name entered and a check mark beside the selection. Voters should review that entry before finishing their ballot.

For voters using the accessible interface, the candidate’s name can be entered using the move wheel, and write-in voting also is available through the audio ballot.

Texas law requires write-in candidates to formally declare their candidacy before the election for votes cast for them to count. The state also requires voting locations to provide voters with a list of declared write-in candidates for the races in which they are eligible to vote.

In other words, this is not a situation where voters can simply type in anybody’s name and expect the vote to be counted.

The other election term generating attention lately is the “suspense list.”

Despite the ominous name, being on the suspense list does not mean a voter has been kicked off the rolls or is no longer allowed to vote.

“The suspense list is a normal part of maintaining accurate voter-registration records,” Ms. Mosley said. “Being on the suspense list does not mean the voter’s registration has been canceled.”

A voter generally winds up on the list when election officials need to verify the person’s current residence — for example, when a voter-registration certificate or other official mail is returned as undeliverable or the voter does not respond to an address-confirmation notice. The Texas Secretary of State says a voter on suspense remains a registered voter with the same voting rights as other registered voters.

If a suspense voter still lives in Young County, the voter generally completes a Statement of Residence at the polling place and, if otherwise eligible, votes a regular ballot.

Young County currently has 449 suspense voters among 12,751 registered voters, or 3.52 percent, according to figures supplied by Ms. Mosley.

That percentage is substantially higher than the 0.71 percent recorded in March 2024, but it is not unprecedented. Young County’s suspense rate was 4.06 percent in both January and March 2022 and 3.60 percent in November 2022.

“The current suspense rate is 3.52 percent, which doesn’t seem unusually high compared to past numbers, although it is higher than it was in 2024,” Ms. Mosley said.

Texas election officials also have been dealing with changes involving voter-registration record checks, electronic poll books, voting equipment, paper audit trails, election reporting and procedures for certain flawed mail ballots, Ms. Mosley said.

But she emphasized that most of those changes involve election administration rather than changing a voter’s fundamental ability to cast a ballot.

The easiest way to avoid Election Day surprises is simple: check your voter registration now.

Voters can verify their registration through the Texas Secretary of State’s voter-registration website or contact the Young County Elections Office.

And if your record says “suspense,” don’t panic.

You may have some paperwork to complete — but, as Ms. Mosley put it, you are still a registered voter.