Social media posts falsely claim that ballots marked by poll workers will be disqualified
Associated Press · Melissa Goldin ·
As early voting begins in the 2026 midterm elections, social media users are warning each other about what could allegedly happen if a poll worker marks a ballot before it is fed into a scanner. Posts have spread on multiple platforms, often with the same text, claiming ballots that are written on will be disqualified. Voting procedures vary by jurisdiction, but it is not unheard for ballot marking by poll workers to be part of the process. There are multiple reasons a poll worker might write on a ballot, according to election officials in multiple states. Experts advise voters to check what the rules are in their district and to avoid making stray marks of their own.
As early voting begins in the 2026 midterm elections, social media users are claiming that if a poll worker marks a ballot it will be disqualified.
Posts making the claim have spread on multiple platforms, often with the same text. “A very reliable good friend of mine just finished the pollworker training, and she texted to this to me,” they begin. They then go on to advise: “When you are checking in at the polls and they happen to write anything on your ballot before they give it to you to put in the voting machine...a letter, a checkmark, a letter star, an R or a D any writing of any kind.”
The posts conclude: “Please forward this to everyone you know. Make sure poll workers do not write on your ballot. It will cause your ballot to be disqualified.”
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