Are you unsure whether to use a pen or pencil to mark your ballot on election day? Elections Canada wants to assure you that your vote will count regardless of the writing tool you choose.

Recently, there have been misleading posts circulating on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter), suggesting that voters must use a pen to mark their ballot to prevent tampering. However, Elections Canada has debunked this claim, stating that a pencil-marked ballot is just as valid as one marked with a pen.

According to Elections Canada, poll workers are required to provide voters with black-lead pencils, but voters are free to use a pen or any other writing tool of their preference. The use of pencils is preferred by Elections Canada due to the risk of pens drying up or leaking, which could potentially spoil a ballot.

It is important to note that ballots are securely sealed until the time of counting on election day. Elections Canada ensures transparency in the counting process by having pairs of paid election workers tally the votes in the presence of impartial witnesses, typically representatives of the candidates.