In Virginia, absentee ballots must be filled in with a #2 pencil

[demnan]

If you'd like to read more, see my post in the VA forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=183x4506

I was surprised - you may not be, so for those of you who have assisted others or are doing absentee ballots yourself, does your state require a pencil to be used?

[whistle]

1. Why?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Some scanners read only #2 pencil

[whistle]

8. That what I used when I was in public school back in the 1950s

....#2 pencils on answer sheets with little round circles which has to be filled in perfectly with no marks outside the circle and no white space in the circle. Fifty year old technology :shrug:

[madokie]

9. I remember that too

[Connie_Corleone]

2. In Hamilton County, Ohio, you can use a blue or black pen.

[karlrschneider]

3. We use markers similar to Sharpies - supplied by the election board.

...

[Justice Is Comin]

10. I just got my ballot too and that's what I used,

but it bled through in three or four places to the other side. These were all judges and I'm not voting for anybody on that side but it left these marks. So, I wonder if this is considered a "spoiled ballot" now.

I called the person who is supposed to tell me, but she hasn't returned my call yet.

I think to be on the safe side, I'm going to request another ballot.

[skooooo]

4. ...we just got ours..

In Washington state. One piece of paper said to use #2 pencil only, but then a 2nd set of instructions said blue or black ink pen was acceptable too. I'm using #2 pencil just in case.

[ellenfl]

5. pencil is easier to erase. eom

[demnan]

7. Yes

and we have a pivotal race here in Virginia.

[marions ghost]

11. the va absentee ballot is very confusing -- is it

byzantine and archaic, or deliberately difficult?

My Dad just sent his in to Virginia. The instructions are cumbersome and the envelope with all the printing where you have to write over the seal is just bizarre. I think he used a pen to mark the ballot. You certainly wouldn't use a pencil for anything legal.

The VA amendment proposals are also troublesome. Even the brightest among us would find them hard to understand and misleading. I can't see how they get by with this in VA. In other states there must be a clear and comprehensive explanation to accompany such initiatives.

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Go to Early Voting instead, please!

Voting in person before election day is the best way to vote.

You use their pen or pencil, there's no postage, you don't have to worry about the ballot getting lost in the mail, and it's a lot hard to steal your ID when you have to vote in person.

Plus, if you run into any problem at all, you still have to time to do something about it. With an absentee ballot you may never know.