Voting pencil conspiracy theory

{{Short description|Conspiracy theory that pencil votes are changed}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The voting pencil conspiracy theory is a conspiracy theory that using the pencils provided in British polling stations allows the result to be changed by MI5. Promoters of the theory urge people to use pen on the basis that it makes it harder for MI5 to change the vote. The theory originated with "Yes" voters in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and was widespread among "Leave" voters during the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum.{{cite news |last=Etehad |first=Melissa |date=23 June 2016 |title=Pencil or pen? An unusual conspiracy theory grips Brexit vote |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/23/pencil-or-pen-an-unusual-conspiracy-theory-grips-brexit-vote/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=12 December 2019 }} On Twitter, the hashtags #Usepens and #Pencilgate were used to promote the theory.{{open access}} {{cite journal |last1=Dobreva |first1=Diyana |last2=Grinnell |first2=Daniel|last3=Innes |first3=Martin |date=6 May 2019 |title=Prophets and Loss: How "Soft Facts" on Social Media Influenced the Brexit Campaign and Social Reactions to the Murder of Jo Cox MP |journal=Policy & Internet |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=144–164 |doi=10.1002/poi3.203 |doi-access=free }}{{cite news |title=Keith's mum, pencil plots and other EU referendum day trends |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-36612378 |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=BBC News |date=23 June 2016}} Legally, voters are free to use the pencil or bring their own pen.{{cite news |last=Addley |first=Esther |date=23 June 2016 |title=EU ballot papers: pencils draw conspiracy fears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/23/eu-ballot-papers-pencils-conspiracy-fears-social-media-voters |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 December 2019}} The Electoral Commission states that pencils are offered due to greater reliability and reduced risk of ink being transferred across a folded ballot paper.{{cite book |date=2024|title=Handbook for polling station staff – Supporting a UK Parliamentary election in Great Britain|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/Polling%20Station%20Handbook%20UKPGE%202024_0.pdf#page=69|publisher=The Electoral Commission|page=65}}

The conspiracy theory later spread beyond the UK and featured in the 2022 Australian federal election.{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Ben |date=20 April 2022 |title=Pauline Hanson addresses pencil conspiracy for the 2022 federal election |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/pauline-hanson-addresses-pencil-conspiracy-for-the-2022-federal-election/news-story/dc527585c40a3233a5c2bcd576259686 |work= news.com.au |access-date=17 January 2023}}

The conspiracy theory also spread to Canada in the 2025 federal election.{{Cite news |last=Lord |first=Craig |date=Apr 21, 2025 |title=Pen or pencil? Elections Canada says it doesn't matter when casting a ballot |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/elections-canada-pen-or-pencil-1.7515032 |access-date=Apr 23, 2025 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}} Canadian election law requires that a pencil be offered but voters are free to bring their own pen.{{cite news |last=Goldhamer |first=Marisha |date=17 April 2025 |title=Misleading claims about voting in pencil resurface in Canada |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.42FU9KD |work=AFP Fact Check |publisher=AFP |access-date=2 May 2025}}