No, Sharpies aren't ruining ballots in Arizona

An Arizona "I Voted" sticker.
(Image credit: Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images)

Election officials in Arizona confirmed on Wednesday that Sharpies can be used to mark ballots in the state, despite internet rumors to the contrary.

The latest conspiracy theory making the rounds on Twitter is that in Maricopa County, poll workers gave voters Sharpies, which ruined and invalidated ballots, especially those cast for President Trump. The Maricopa County Elections Department tweeted a clarification, saying that Sharpies are used so ink doesn't smudge when votes are counted, and "new offset columns on the ballots means bleed through won't impact your vote."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.