The ongoing controversy over Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore has raised questions over casting a write-in vote on Dec. 12. Here's what you need to know about casting a write-in vote:

Your candidate isn't listed on the ballot?

If you want to vote for someone who isn't listed on the ballot, you can write his or her name in the blank write-in box on the ballot. Each contest has its own write in box.

You also have to...

For your write-in vote to count, you have to shade in the circle next to the "write-in" box. No mark and you vote won't be counted.

What about straight-party voters?

You can still write-in a candidate if you cast a straight - or single party - ticket. Voters will mark their ticket straight party and then add the name and fill in the bubble for the races where they want to write-in a candidate. Each vote for a write-in candidate will override the straight-party vote only for the race with the write-in area filled in," Secretary of State John Merrill said.

Does spelling count?

According to Merrill, voters should be familiar with the spelling of the name of the candidate for whom they intend to vote. Misspellings won't disqualify the vote, but it has to be close enough that the voter's intention can be reasonably determined upon review. The voter must use a full last name, but initials are acceptable for first and middle names.

Handwritten only

All write-in votes must be handwritten, so no stamps or stickers for names.

Can I vote for Mickey Mouse?

Write-in votes for candidates are counted if that person is qualified to hold office. In other words, skip the Mickey Mouse and Nick Saban write-ins.

Can I vote for someone who ran before?

Yes, you can write in any name of a qualified candidate, even if that person ran and lost in the primary. Alabama's "sore loser" law prohibits a candidate that lost in the primary from running as an independent, meaning their name would be printed on the ballot. There's nothing to keep any candidate from running a write-in campaign or someone casting their ballot for whomever they choose.

Will I see the total of write-in votes on election night?

No. The Alabama Legislature passed a law in 2016 so that write-in votes are not counted on election day. The law stipulates that write-in votes for a particular contest are not counted unless the total number of write-in votes is greater than the difference in the number of votes received by the first place and second place candidates. If that takes place, write-in votes are counted on the seventh day after the election. If the number of write-ins doesn't mean that threshold, they are not counted.