Over the past few weeks, a number of people have told me that they simply have no desire to vote for the available candidates listed on the ballot for U.S. Senate in New York. They asked me: "Can we just write you in?"

I didn't particularly focus on this idea until I received a letter from a senior citizen supporter who, in shaky handwriting, asked my permission to write in my name for the Senate race. Her letter was touching and passionate.

So, while I will not make a big effort to push this idea, if you want to write in my name--or, frankly, anyone else but the incumbent--please feel free to do so. The truth is that no one should have to vote for an incumbent who has supported a war that has killed more than 2,800 American men and women and 650,000 Iraqis, wounded hundreds of thousands more, destroyed a country and will end up costing our country as much as 2 trillion dollars. Every vote that is not cast for the incumbent is a vote against the war (so, FYI, please DO NOT CAST A VOTE FOR THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, which is cynically urging people to vote for the incumbent on the WFP line as an ANTI-WAR VOTE...)

Here is how you do that:

Locate the button over the column of numbered slots on the left of the voting machine and:

Depress the button and, while holding it in, open the slot opposite the office for which you wish to write in a candidate's name.

Write the name of your preferred candidate in the slot. A pencil is provided. Cast your vote for other offices in the usual manner.

When you finish making your selection, leave the levers down and pull the large red handle all the way to the left. The write-in slot will close, the levers will return to their original position and your vote is recorded. if you need help, you can demand that the poll workers assist you.