In the past, such notables as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck have received write-in votes in Butler County primaries.

But in the voting May 15, write-ins changed the ballot for the Nov. 6 general election by adding candidates where none had existed and turning uncontested races into challenges.

Races that have been affected are:

• Write-in Fred Reese, a member of the Butler Redevelopment Authority who won a Republican spot on the fall ballot, will vie with two Democratic candidates — C. Rick Hardman and Joseph J. Bratkovich — for the two-open council seats.

• Voters had only one declared candidate for Karns City School board when they entered the polls, now there are six candidates for five seats. Write-ins now on November's ballot are Bryon Fleeger, Lori Ellenberger, Brenda Earley, Tammy Futcher and John Evankovich. They join Democrat Henry J. Crawford, who was the lone candidate on the primary ballot.

• In Connoquenessing and Jackson townships, write-ins have provided a race for the fall. From the primary ballot, Jack L. Kaltenbaugh beat out two other Republican hopefuls for a spot on the fall ballot in Connoquenessing. Daniel McGee will now face Kaltenbaugh in November. In Jackson, write-in candidate Trent Geis will face Roy Huffman in the fall. Geis won the Republican nomination. Huffman beat Geis in the Democratic primary.

• Five municipalities that had no candidates in the primary now have at least one for the fall ballot. Write-ins are Walter Walowen for Mercer Township supervisor; James Allen for Parker Township supervisor; Lloyd Leslie for Connoquenessing Borough council; and Joanne Rogers for Mars Borough council. In Eau Claire, there are three candidates for the three four-year council seats. They are: Carrie Thompson, Sale Yommer and David Hunter. Jack Buzard is the write-in, and lone, candidate for the two-year council seat.

• Butler Township Commissioner Joseph Hasychak, who won a spot on the November ballot by his Republican primary victory, now also will appear on the fall ballot as a Democrat by virtue of his write-in victory. The others on the fall ballot will be Democrats Tammy Quercio and Dave Zarnick, and Republicans Joseph Cavaliero and Margie Brown. The board has three open seats.

• Cherri Deener won write-in votes on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots in Evans City. She will join Republican Harry Shaffer and Democrat Roy E. Long on the fall ballot. The council has three open seats.

• The Harmony council race got a little more crowded with write-in candidate Russell Ottney joining six other candidates for four open council seats. The other candidates are Democrats David C. Rogers Jr. and Margaret O'Reilley and Republicans David Szakelyhidi, Michelle Barto, David H. Eberle and Frank A. Luek.