 To be eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame , a candidate needs to receive votes on 75 percent of the total ballots cast by the Baseball Writers ' Association of America . However , if the candidate receives less than 5 percent , he is no longer eligible for future Hall of Fame consideration by the BBWAA . Smith was first eligible for the ballot five years after he retired , and is allowed to be on the ballot through 2017 if he continues to meet the minimum vote threshold . Should he fail to be elected by the BBWAA , he will remain eligible for consideration by the Veterans Committee ; under current rules , his first chance for consideration by that body would be in 2019 for the induction class of 2020 . In his first year of eligibility , 2003 , Smith received 210 votes , or 42 percent of the 496 total ballots cast . The following year , Smith only received 185 votes , or 37 percent of the 506 total ballots cast . In 2005 , Smith improved from the previous year 's results , and received a total of 200 votes , or 39 percent of the 516 total cast . Smith came closer to joining the Hall of Fame in 2006 by receiving 45 percent of the ballots cast , or 234 votes . In 2007 , Smith 's received only 217 votes , just 40 percent of the 545 total ballots cast . Smith increased his total in 2008 , with 235 votes , 43 @.@ 3 % of the total ballots cast . He received 44 @.@ 5 % of the vote in 2009 and 47 @.@ 3 % of the vote in 2010 . In 2011 , he received 45 @.@ 3 % of the vote . He peaked at a new high of 50 @.@ 6 % in 2012 , but dropped down to 47 @.@ 8 % the following year . In 2014 , he dropped to 29 @.@ 9 % , but received 30 @.@ 2 % of the vote in 2015 . 
