What are the rules for write-in candidates?
In order to be eligible to receive write-in votes and have them actually count, a candidate must file a written statement declaring him or herself to be an official write-in candidate for a particular election. Write-in votes cast for someone who has not filed as an official write-in candidate will not be counted. If a voter misspells the name of candidate, or omits part of the candidate’s name or the office for which the candidate is running, the vote may still count depending upon a number of different factors — the text of the regulations that specify how write-in votes are counted are included in a description of the qualifications of write-in candidates (in PDF) on the Secretary of State’s web site.
