释义 |
ˈwrite-in [f. the vbl. phr. to write in: see write v. 15 c, 23 c. For sense 2 (first part of def.), cf. also -in3.] 1. The name of an unlisted candidate inserted by a voter on a ballot-paper, etc., as the candidate of his choice; a vote cast for such a candidate, or the act of voting in this way. Freq. attrib. orig. and chiefly U.S.
1932Sun (Baltimore) 23 Aug. 2/2 (heading) Smith's office denies all knowledge of write-in cards being circulated. 1933Ibid. 4 May 2/2 In that election McKee, although not even a candidate, received a ‘write-in’ vote of nearly a quarter of a million. 1937Ibid. 18 Sept. 10/3 The really significant item in the returns from New York..is the extraordinary number of ‘write-ins’ for Mayor La Guardia on Democratic ballots. 1950Chicago Tribune 2 Apr. 40/1 Such an attempted write-in for any candidate might result in many spoiled ballots. 1959Listener 10 Dec. 1022/1 Stevenson got a tremendous write-in vote in one famous primary. 1964Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 10 Mar. (1970) 84 There was a creditable number of write-in votes for Attorney General Kennedy for Vice President. 1971Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 2 Nov. 1/8 Another man who was out of town when filing closed says he'll gladly be a write-in candidate for councilman. 1982Daily Tel. 13 Aug. 2/1 Three other spaces will be left for ‘write-ins’. 2. A protest in the form of mass letters of complaint; also, an invitation from a radio broadcast to its listeners to write in and express their views. Cf. phone-in.
1972Listener 15 June 780/3 I'm proposing a mass write-in to request reassessment of most of the rates. 1981Marsh & Chambers Abortion Politics i. 27 Both organizations lobbied in Parliament and both organized meetings and write-in campaigns in the constituencies. 1981Church Times 7 Aug. 16/5 In 1978, when the BBC's Sunday programme ran a write-in on the subject of a Graham mission, 15,000 listeners replied. 1984Times 10 Nov. 1/4 There has been a ‘strong response’ to a direct-mail campaign asking pitmen to complete a write-in slip. |