Can We Write-In Bernie?

UPDATE: If you would like to learn more about your states voting laws, check it out HERE.

If you support Bernie Sanders, you've heard of the out-pour of support for the "write-in" option this election. Many Bernie supporters refuse to vote for Clinton or anyone else, and choose to write-in Bernie, but here's the question, can we really write-in Bernie?

Before I begin, I would like to announce, that if you can and want to write-in Bernie, I strongly support your decision. As an American, you have the right to vote for whoever you want and you don't have to justify your vote to anyone but yourself.

But here's the problem with this whole "write-in" movement that's been starting up since Clinton has been announced the presumptive nominee: in many states, you can't simply write Bernie in. For example, I live in the state of North Carolina, and I will be voting there in November. For me to be able to write in Bernie, he has to announce to North Carolina that he's running as a "write-in candidate".

Considering the fact that Bernie has already endorsed Clinton, he most likely won't run as a write-in candidate, which means me and the other nearly 10 million people in the state of North Carolina, won't have the option to write him in. This leaves us with either Clinton, Trump, or any of the 3rd party candidates who get on the ballots.

Now, I don't know the laws for all fifty states, but from what I've heard, there are other states (Texas is another big one) with similar laws about write-ins. In total, 35 states require some sort of filing to occur to allow write-in ballots. This leaves us at a crossroad. If this many people don't even have the option to write-in Bernie, is it truly worth it?

We already know there are other 3rd party options, such as Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, and obviously many Bernie supporters will lean towards Clinton and Trump. So, with millions of citizens unable to write-in Bernie, is writing-in Bernie a waste of time?

Look, here's what we have to realize, as I stated before: you have the right to vote for whoever you want. If you choose to write-in Bernie even after he endorses Clinton (presuming he doesn't somehow win the convention), then you have that choice, but from what I understand, many people aren't aware that writing a candidate in isn't always a given right.

All I can tell you is this, learn more about your state laws before you scream that you're gonna write-in Bernie and make sure you actually can, and then actually consider how many states will or will not have the same option as you. Be smart. Vote smart.