Sharpie is ‘perfectly fine’ for Mich. ballots
Markers recommended in some counties in state
Last week, a national controversy broke out over pens – specifically, Sharpies, the brand of permanent markers best known for their strong ink and stronger fumes.
First, a video of a woman who claimed she witnessed poll workers hand voters Sharpies in an effort to invalidate their votes went viral. That allegation, in Phoenix, launched #SharpieGate.
Then, the claim spread to another battleground state: Michigan.
“If you were given a black sharpie marker to fill out your ballot, call the MI number below to report your polling location,” reads an image posted to Facebook. “The machines will successfully count your ballot but not your vote, because the machines only detect black pen ink!”
In the caption, the user who shared the image wrote, “Standish Township was handing out sharpies too!!!!!!!”
He has not responded to a request from USA TODAY for comment.
Michigan officials debunk the posts, and one clerk tweeted Sharpies are ‘preferred’
Multiple officials in Michigan debunked the claim that ballots marked with Sharpies will not be counted.
Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, confirmed to the Associated Press that Sharpies are an acceptable method of marking ballots.
“Blue and black Sharpie is perfectly fine,” she wrote in a text message. “To say otherwise is misinformation.”
Lisa Posthumus Lyons, the clerk for Michigan’s Kent County, also took to Twitterto address the pen-related confusion.
“We’ve recv’d questions abt Sharpie markers used to vote at #Kent County polls. Sharpies are the preferred device of our election equipment vendor,” she wrote. “Black or blue pen also acceptable for proper tabulating. Bleed through is not a concern as ballots are programmed to ignore bleed.”
In response to a reply, Posthumus Lyons confirmed that “not every county in Michigan uses the same equipment.”
But Sharpies are recommended in counties such as hers, which use Dominion voting equipment.
USA TODAY also debunked the original claim that ballots in Phoenix marked with Sharpies were disqualified. There’s no proof to support that allegation either.
Our rating: False
Based on our research, the claim that ballots in Michigan marked with Sharpies will not be counted is FALSE. Multiple election officials confirmed that filling out ballots with blue or black Sharpie is acceptable – and in some cases, even “preferred.”