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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/23/eu-ballot-papers-pencils-conspiracy-fears-social-media-voters
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU ballot papers: pencils draw conspiracy fears | EU ballot papers: pencils draw conspiracy fears |
| (2 months later) | |
| The Electoral Commission has reminded voters that ballot papers marked in pencil or pen are equally valid, in response to concerns expressed on social media that votes not written in ink could be rubbed out and altered. | The Electoral Commission has reminded voters that ballot papers marked in pencil or pen are equally valid, in response to concerns expressed on social media that votes not written in ink could be rubbed out and altered. |
| Polling stations routinely provide short pencils, attached to the booth by string, for people to mark their ballot paper with. But some, mostly pro-Brexit, voters have been urging people to bring their own pens to ensure their papers are not altered in favour of a remain vote. | Polling stations routinely provide short pencils, attached to the booth by string, for people to mark their ballot paper with. But some, mostly pro-Brexit, voters have been urging people to bring their own pens to ensure their papers are not altered in favour of a remain vote. |
| Please please please take a pen to vote!! They provide pencils and I don't think we can trust a pencil!! As daft as it sounds 😂 #VoteLeave | Please please please take a pen to vote!! They provide pencils and I don't think we can trust a pencil!! As daft as it sounds 😂 #VoteLeave |
| If you vote with a pencil and you're voting LEAVE be sure that your vote will be erased and switched to REMAIN. #VoteLeave | If you vote with a pencil and you're voting LEAVE be sure that your vote will be erased and switched to REMAIN. #VoteLeave |
| Remember, when you vote on the 23rd, take a pen to vote, and don't use the pencil. I wouldn't put anything past the IN brigade.#Brexit | Remember, when you vote on the 23rd, take a pen to vote, and don't use the pencil. I wouldn't put anything past the IN brigade.#Brexit |
| One Ukip supporter claimed on Twitter that remain campaigners had called the police after she offered to lend her pen to voters outside a Chichester polling station. | One Ukip supporter claimed on Twitter that remain campaigners had called the police after she offered to lend her pen to voters outside a Chichester polling station. |
| Police came to Chichester polling station called by REMAIN side to stop me LENDING my PEN to all voters.#fraud pic.twitter.com/CGqra3yXR1 | Police came to Chichester polling station called by REMAIN side to stop me LENDING my PEN to all voters.#fraud pic.twitter.com/CGqra3yXR1 |
| A spokesman for Sussex police said they had been called to the polling station, in Durnford Close, by a volunteer who reported a disturbance, but that no offences had been committed and it was not being dealt with as a police matter. | A spokesman for Sussex police said they had been called to the polling station, in Durnford Close, by a volunteer who reported a disturbance, but that no offences had been committed and it was not being dealt with as a police matter. |
| Some local authorities have urged voters to use the pencils provided, with East Northants council drawing the ire of the conspiracy theorists by suggesting there were good reasons not to use a pen. | Some local authorities have urged voters to use the pencils provided, with East Northants council drawing the ire of the conspiracy theorists by suggesting there were good reasons not to use a pen. |
| @ENCouncil absolute nonsense. The establishment pleading with voters to use pencils smacks of potential corruption. #EUref #VoteLeave | @ENCouncil absolute nonsense. The establishment pleading with voters to use pencils smacks of potential corruption. #EUref #VoteLeave |
| @ENCouncil Bullshit. Biro ink dries on contact with paper you muppets. | @ENCouncil Bullshit. Biro ink dries on contact with paper you muppets. |
| But a spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said there was no legal requirement to use either, and voters were entitled to write in ink if they preferred. “The use of a pen or pencil is not specified in legislation. Pencils have been traditionally used for the purpose of marking papers and are available in polling stations, but voters are more than welcome to bring their own pens with them.” | But a spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said there was no legal requirement to use either, and voters were entitled to write in ink if they preferred. “The use of a pen or pencil is not specified in legislation. Pencils have been traditionally used for the purpose of marking papers and are available in polling stations, but voters are more than welcome to bring their own pens with them.” |
| There was no restriction on colour, she added, though “we are advising blue or black ink”. Asked if ballot papers were checked to ensure votes had not been erased and altered, the spokeswoman said all votes were verified and checked for spoiled ballots. | There was no restriction on colour, she added, though “we are advising blue or black ink”. Asked if ballot papers were checked to ensure votes had not been erased and altered, the spokeswoman said all votes were verified and checked for spoiled ballots. |
| Other Twitter users, meanwhile, mocked the #usepens hashtag as a wild conspiracy theory. | Other Twitter users, meanwhile, mocked the #usepens hashtag as a wild conspiracy theory. |
| I didn't take my own pen, because as far as I can tell I'm not completely fucking delusional. | I didn't take my own pen, because as far as I can tell I'm not completely fucking delusional. |
| Don't use a pencil to vote or #usepens, tattoo it on your forehead and stuff yourself in the ballot box. Let's see MI5 fix that #tinfoilers | Don't use a pencil to vote or #usepens, tattoo it on your forehead and stuff yourself in the ballot box. Let's see MI5 fix that #tinfoilers |
| I voted in pencil just in case MI5 need to change it later | I voted in pencil just in case MI5 need to change it later |