Social media posts falsely claim that ballots marked by poll workers will be disqualified
Associated Press ·
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.