Maricopa County Officials: Sharpies Will Not Negatively Affect Your Ballot

Social media posts are circulating in the Phoenix area claiming that if anyone used a Sharpie to fill out their ballot, their votes could be tossed. Many residents are worried that their ballots are being invalidated because they were instructed to use a Sharpie to cast their vote.

AZ Family spoke with Erika Flores, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department to get some clarity on the issue.

Flores stated that voters are allowed to use one of three types of writing utensils to cast a ballot: black pen, blue pen, or Sharpie.

The new tabulation equipment counts votes in a way in which the ink that bleeds through the paper from the use of a Sharpie is not a problem.

In fact, not only are Sharpies allowed, but they are preferred. This is because Sharpies have fast-drying ink.

However, Sharpies with red ink should not be used and cannot be counted as the tabulation equipment cannot read red ink.

Maricopa County Elections Department tweeted, "Did you know we use Sharpies in the Vote Centers so the ink doesn't smudge as ballots are counted onsite? New offset columns on the ballots means bleed through won't impact your vote!"

Photo: Getty Images

Source: AZ Family