Explanation behind using pencils to vote and if you can use a pen instead

Today people across the UK will head to their local polling station, pick up a pencil and put a cross in a box on their ballot paper.

This is the way we vote in all general elections and each time the pencils we use become a major topic of debate.

Voters begin to question just how safe our votes are if they are made using a lead pencil which could be erased.

So the question is posed – can we vote with pens instead?

And it turns out there’s a very simple answer to this question. Yes, you can vote with a pen if you’d prefer to do that.

This is according to the Electoral Commission, who recently shared a guide to everything you need to know about voting.

They said: “Pencils are generally used to mark ballot papers for practical reasons: ink may dry or spill, or could smudge and transfer when the ballot paper is folded, which could lead to your ballot paper being rejected.

“But this is not mandatory – you can use your own pen if you prefer.”

So there you have it folks, there are no sinister reasons as to why pencils are often provided at the polls, it’s purely for practicality.

This discovery has caused many social media users to proclaim they will be taking pens with them to vote as they don’t “trust” pencils.

One person tweeted: “Polling Stations – Pencils or Pens? As I recall, polling stations leave out pencils for the filling out of voting slips. I think I’ll take a PEN with me as pencil lends itself to alteration. This hasn’t occurred to me before but this election gives me zero trust in our systems.”

Another said: “Election week. I’ll be taking a pen and not a pencil to place my cross. Try rubbing that out.”

The Electoral Commission also posted some advice for filling out your ballot paper on the day.

They urge people to take their time and read the paper carefully, competing it in line with the instructions.

“You will need to mark a single ‘X’ in the box next to the candidate you wish to represent your constituency in the House of Commons,” they explained.

“Don’t write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted. 

“If you make a mistake, don’t worry – as long as you haven’t already put it in the ballot box, just let the polling station staff know and they can give you a replacement ballot paper.”