2020 Maricopa County Directs Use of Sharpie Pens

While reading Maricopa County 2022 General Election Ballot-on-Demand Printer Investigation, there were mentions of the 2020 "Sharpiegate" incident during the General Elections. The 2022 introduced the Sharpiegate incident with the following:

"During the 2020 general election, however, on some ballots, the ink from the “Sharpie” pens provided at the vote centers bled through the paper."

Elsewhere in the 2022 report, the investigator discredit's the Sharpiegate incident as being unfounded. Alternate independent evaluations of the Sharpiegate incident were sought, given the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was funding the report that discredited the incident.

Something more interesting than another report was found. Email from Maricopa County leadership directs the use of "Sharpie Markers" on Election day! Why?

The email was obtained from an internet-based news agency, but looked authentic.

The Email

The email was sent by Kelly Dixon, Assistant Director, Recruitment and Training for the Elections Department.

The subject was Pens and Thank! (Not in that order!)

The email was sent on October 22, 2020, twelve days before the General Election on November 3, 2020.

What in this email?

The email begins with Kelly Dixon's thanks to Troubleshooters.

Then the contents get interesting.

Sharpie Pen Isssues known before Election Day

Emphasis (caps) was placed by the author of the email.

"Next, we've heard you and we know you've been hearing issues and concerns about Sharpie Markers. Starting tomorrow, 10/23, and through 11/2, we are asking that Clerks hand voters BALLPOINT PENS rather than markers. We NEED to use Markers on Election Day, but for now and through 11/2, hand voters a Ballpoint Pen. 

Spread the Word

Please message this to your Inspectors and ensure they cascade this change down to everyone on the Board.