This campaign season, potential voters have quizzed Donald J. Lucas, an independent Assembly candidate, about a variety of issues. But since the Massena resident was dropped from the official ballot because of a paperwork glitch in August, there's one topic he's been asked about a lot.

"The common question I get from everybody is: How do you do a write-in?" said Mr. Lucas. "People are thinking you've got to write a letter into the Board of Elections. People aren't really aware that that's one of their rights in the voting booth. If there's somebody they'd like to elect to that position, they can write that person in."

First, the voter must find the column for the office of the candidate they'll be writing in. For example, column seven in Jefferson County is for the state Assembly. (It's column nine in St. Lawrence County.) In that column — above the ballot proposition — voters will find a row of slanted tabs about four inches long. To vote, lift the tab and expose the paper and write in a name.

Voters should be certain they want to write in a candidate before moving the tab.

"Once you open it, you've voted," said Sean M. Hennessey, Jefferson County Democratic elections commissioner. The levers in that race will lock, even if a voter tries to close the tab.

Mr. Hennessey said voters should make their write-in as specific as possible, although he said commissioners "will try to be as liberal as we can on the voter's intent."