Can You Use a Black Pen to Vote
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Click here for more information about our 2020 election coverage.
In some states, election officials may reject ballots with stray marks, multiple choices filled in for the same office, or improper marks (for example, using check marks or X's instead of filling in circles). To avoid the possibility that your ballot is rejected for these reasons, follow the instructions on the ballot. If you make a mistake, mismark, or damage your ballot in any way, contact your local election office for instructions about how to proceed.
In general, ballots should not have any additional writing, except for clearly printed write-in's where indicated, or anything spilled on it that could affect the ballot scanner when processing responses.
Ballot instructions sometimes indicate to use blue or black ink when filling out your ballot. This is because ballot scanners can only read ballots that are properly filled out with specific colors of ink, similar to that of standardized Scantron tests at school.[1] Marking your ballot in pencil or a different-colored ink may result in the ballot being rejected. The map below highlights pen vs. pencil requirements by state.
The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. Our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from the casting of ballots to the certification of final results. Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions.
More frequently asked questions about the 2020 election
Click on a question below to read the answer:
- General election information
- Who runs elections in the United States?
- Why do states have different election rules?
- What methods do states use to prevent election fraud?
- Do you have to vote for everything on your ballot?
- What happens if you mark outside the lines or use the wrong pen/pencil?
- What is a spoiled ballot?
- What is a write-in candidate?
- How can I check the status of my ballot?
- Can I take a ballot selfie?
- Presidential election
- What happens if a presidential candidate declares victory in the 2020 election before results are final?
- Can presidential candidates win the election if they have already conceded?
- What are the steps and deadlines for electing the President of the United States?
- What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College?
- What are faithless electors in the Electoral College?
- What happens if a presidential nominee becomes incapacitated before the election?
- Can members of Congress object to Electoral College results?
- Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
- What is the life cycle of an absentee/mail-in ballot?
- What happens if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date?
- What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person?
- How do states protect and verify absentee/mail-in ballots?
- How do election workers match signatures?
- Are results reported on election night coming from in-person or absentee/mail-in votes?
- Do states report how many mail-in/absentee ballots are outstanding on election night?
- Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots?
- What happens if someone votes by mail-in ballot or absentee ballot and subsequently passes away before Election Day?
- Disputing election results
- How will election recounts work?
- How close does an election have to be to trigger an automatic recount?
- Can a candidate or voter request a recount?
- Who pays for recounts and contested elections?
- What are poll watchers?
- What does it mean to challenge a voter's eligibility, and who can do it?
- What is a redo election?
- Who can file election-related lawsuits?
- What are the reasons to call a redo election?
- Who can call a redo election?
- Can a redo be held for a presidential election?
- Election result reporting and certification
- What happens if candidates declare victory in the 2020 election before results are final?
- Can candidates win an election if they have already conceded?
- How and when are election results finalized?
- How do major media outlets declare winners?
- Transitions of power and taking office
- Who is the president if election results are unknown by January 20, 2021?
- Who serves in Congress if election results are unknown by January 2021?
- Who serves in a state or local government if election results are unknown?
- What happens if the winning presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before taking office?
- Articles about potential scenarios in the 2020 election
- U.S. Supreme Court actions affecting the November 3, 2020, general election
See also
- Voting in 2020
- Rejected absentee/mail-in ballots in the 2016 and 2018 elections
Related articles
- Axios, "Top 5 mail voting mistakes (and how to avoid them)," October 10, 2020
- Billy Penn, "Beware the 'naked ballot': Follow these steps to make sure your PA mail vote counts," October 4, 2020
Footnotes
- ↑ Business Insider, "5 mistakes that can disqualify your November mail ballot and how to avoid them," September 30, 2020
| v•e | ||
|---|---|---|
| General information | General election questions: Who runs elections in the United States? • Why do states have different election rules? • What methods do states use to prevent election fraud? • Do you have to vote for everything on your ballot? • What happens if you mark outside the lines or use the wrong pen/pencil? • What is a spoiled ballot? • What is a write-in candidate? • How can I check the status of my ballot? • Can I take a ballot selfie? |  |
| Disputed results | Disputed results: Presidential election lawsuits and recounts • Post-election lawsuits | |
| Presidential election | Presidential election help desk: Who is the president if election results are unknown by January 20, 2021? • What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College? • What happens if a presidential nominee becomes incapacitated before the election? • What happens if the winning presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before taking office? • What are faithless electors in the Electoral College? • What are the steps and deadlines for electing the President of the United States? • What happens if a presidential candidate declares victory in the 2020 election before results are final? • Can presidential candidates win the election if they have already conceded? • Can members of Congress object to Electoral College results? | |
| Absentee and mail voting | Absentee/mail-in voting: Eligibility • Request deadlines • Request requirements • Return deadlines • Signature and witness requirements • Life cycle of an absentee/mail-in ballot • Processing, counting, and challenging ballots • When can states begin processing and counting ballots • What happens if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date? • What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person? • How do states protect and verify absentee/mail-in ballots? • How do election workers match signatures? • Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots? • Are results reported on election night coming from in-person or absentee/mail-in votes? • Do states report how many mail-in/absentee ballots are outstanding on election night? • What happens if someone votes by mail-in ballot or absentee ballot and subsequently passes away before Election Day? | |
| Election results certification | Results and certification help desk: Election results certification dates, 2020 • How and when are election results finalized? • What happens if candidates declare victory in the 2020 election before results are final? • Can candidates win an election if they have already conceded? • How do major media outlets declare winners? | |
| Disputing election results | Disputing results help desk: What are poll watchers? • What does it mean to challenge a voter's eligibility, and who can do it? • How will election recounts work? • How close does an election have to be to trigger an automatic recount? • Can a candidate or voter request a recount? • Who pays for recounts and election challenges? • Who can file election-related lawsuits? • What is a redo election? • What are the reasons to call a redo election? • Who can call a redo election? • Can a redo be held for a presidential election? • What kinds of issues can election-related lawsuits address? | |
| Transition | Officeholder transitions help desk: Who is the president if election results are unknown by January 20, 2021? • Who serves in Congress if election results are unknown by January 2021? • Who serves in a state or local government if election results are unknown? | |
| Other | Election Day resource guide • Articles about potential scenarios in the 2020 election • U.S. Supreme Court actions affecting the November 3, 2020, general election | |
| Voting in 2020 | Voting in 2020: Voter ID requirements • State election websites • Early voting dates • Voter registration requirements • Voter registration deadlines • Same-day registration • States that require employers to grant employees time off to vote • Election results certification dates • Recount laws by state • Poll opening and closing times | |
Can You Use a Black Pen to Vote
Source: https://ballotpedia.org/What_happens_if_you_mark_outside_the_lines_or_use_the_wrong_pen/pencil%3F_(2020)
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