# Opinion No.

> Arkansas Attorney General Reports · October 15, 1986

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3265864

## Case

- **Full name:** A. Watson Bell
- **Court:** Arkansas Attorney General Reports
- **Decided:** October 15, 1986
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion of the court
- **Judges:** STEVE CLARK, Attorney General
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3265864

## Opinion text

Mr. A. Watson Bell, Chairman White County Board of Election Commissioners County Clerk's Office White County Courthouse Searcy, AR 72143
Dear Mr. Bell:
This is in response to your inquiry whereby you submitted the following:
A. How close does the name on a write-in ballot have to be to the name utilized by the candidate in filing as a write-in candidate?
B. How close does the position designation on the ballot have to be to the actual position the candidate is running for, i.e., if the voter votes for a write-in in Ward 3, Position 2, when in fact the candidate is running for Ward 2, Position 2, does the vote count?
In answer to your first question, I am enclosing a copy of the decision of Smith v. Ark. 385 F. Supp. 703 (1974).
In answer to your second question I am enclosing a copy of Ark. Stat. Ann. 3-613 and 3-614. It, therefore, follows that if the voter votes for a write-in in Ward 3, Position 2 when the candidate is running for Ward 2, Position 2, the vote would not be counted.
It behooves one to think and use care in marking his ballot.
This opinion, which I hereby approve, was prepared by Chief Deputy Attorney General Rodney Parham.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/3265864. Public record. Not legal advice.