No, Sharpies aren't ruining ballots in Arizona

(Image credit: Courtney Pedroza/Getty Images)

published 5 November 2020

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 has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.