No, poll workers aren’t handing out Sharpies to invalidate ballots.

No, poll workers aren’t handing out Sharpies to invalidate ballots. - The New York Times

Debunking Claims of Voter Fraud

No, poll workers aren’t handing out Sharpies to invalidate ballots.

The writing utensils figured prominently in conspiracy theories in previous elections. But they’re often fine to use on paper ballots.

The false claim

Some people have falsely claimed that election workers have provided Sharpies, markers or other writing utensils to certain voters in an attempt to somehow invalidate their ballots.

Why it is false

Poll workers provide writing utensils that have been tested with ballots and ballot-reading machines long before Election Day. These can include pens, pencils and markers like Sharpies — which are often appropriate to use.

Election administrators sometimes rely on recommendations from voting machine companies and then supply those writing tools to election workers.

Some companies behind ballot-tabulating machines, including Dominion Voting Systems, recommend felt-tip markers like Sharpies because their fast-drying ink prevents smears. Other election offices, like Maricopa County’s in Arizona, redesigned ballots so that any bleed-through from markers would not impair the ballot.

If any writing utensil causes a problem with reading a paper ballot — for instance, if a mark smeared or bled through to the other side — voters are offered an opportunity to vote again, according to the Council of State Governments. If there are additional problems, ballots can be adjudicated by hand using a team of reviewers that includes a Democratic and a Republican representative.

How the falsehoods are being used

The claims often circulate in the form of anecdotes and personal stories that spread rapidly online.

These false claims have been featured prominently in election misinformation since at least 2020, when “ Sharpiegate” became a viral story that bolstered false claims of widespread voter fraud.

That year, the claims were catapulted to larger audiences by right-wing influencers and Trump supporters, including Charlie Kirk, the founder of a pro-Trump youth organization, and Eric Trump, the former president’s son.

Share this fact-check

This article is part of a series about some of the most common falsehoods around voter and election fraud.

Stuart A. Thompson writes about how false and misleading information spreads online and how it affects people around the world. He focuses on misinformation, disinformation and other misleading content. More about Stuart A. Thompson
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