Google Searches for 'Write-In' Just Surged Massively

Searches hit record level since 2004
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 13, 2016 10:37 AM CDT
Google Searches for 'Write-In' See a 2.8K% Surge
A voter reads his ballot at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati as early voting begins statewide.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Americans are apparently looking for someone, anyone, other than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to vote for in the presidential election—just as long as that someone isn't, you know, someone already on the ballot. Google Trends data shows that online searches for "write-in" jumped by more than 2,800% over the past week, CNN reports. That's the highest level it's hit since 2004. And the top five states searching for alternatives are either Democratic strongholds (Vermont, Delaware, New Jersey) or Republican ones (Utah, Indiana), rather than states that tend to fall into purple territory. People are, in particular, interested in Bernie Sanders and Mike Pence as write-in candidates, with the searches "is Bernie Sanders a write in candidate" and "write in Mike Pence" both jumping more than 2,000% over the past week. Also a popular potential write-in, particularly in Utah: Mitt Romney. (More Election 2016 stories.)

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