How much notice do they have to give?
I’ve forgotten, exactly. As I remember, they can file notice any time after official filing has closed. It’s a simple process — just file an affidavit with the clerk of the elction a few days in advance of the election.
The purpose of this regulation is so that election inspectors know which write-ins to actually count and report. We have to make note of each vote written in, but we don’t have to count the Mickey Mouses and Donald Ducks. But, if John Jones has filed intent to stand for office as a write in, we have to tabulate his votes. So, the final talley would read something like Candidate A 100, Candidate B 75, John Jones (write-in) 35, Other write-ins 16.
I was part of a group that did this for the school board in our district about 5 years ago. We were unsuccessful, but we nearly knocked them all off. Close does not count, however.