By definition, a write-in can be anyone you want.
That maybe so but in Alaska it apparently doesn’t mean the vote will be tallied:
http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/Statutes/Title15/Chapter25/Section105.htm
AS 15.25.105. Write-in Candidates.
(a) If a candidate does not appear on the primary election ballot or is not successful in advancing to the general election and wishes to be a candidate in the general election, the candidate may file as a write-in candidate. Votes for a write-in candidate may not be counted unless that candidate has filed a letter of intent with the director stating
...and list follows what must be stated. Click the link to see it...
I really wonder if there were write-ins for Joe Miller?
I remember in Minnesota, there were ballots where the voter checked a candidate, and then also wrote-in the candidate. I can’t remember if they ended up accepting those, or rejecting those as over-votes.
I also wonder if the law is truly clear about not allowing a write-in if the candidate is not registered as a “write-in”. The intent of the write-in law was to limit vote-counting to candidates who were declared. But a candidate who is ON the ballot is a declared candidate, so there is no rational basis for NOT accepting a write-in.
Certainly, the argument to accept a written-in name of a candidate who is ON the ballot would be as strong as the argument that you should accept a mis-spelled “murkowski” if the intent of the voter was clear.
Of course, we wouldn’t be having this discussion if Miller had been a better candidate.
Congratulations to the Alaskan Supreme Court for making things so much easier!