Local elections 2025: Why you solely ever vote with a pencil | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Contrary to well-liked perception, you’ll be able to use a pen to vote in elections, though there are danger related to doing so. On 1 May, tens of millions of individuals will take to the poll field in elections throughout the nation, in what’s going to function the primary appraisal of the Labour authorities’s first 12 months in cost.

Elections can be held in 14 county councils within the UK in addition to eight unitary authorities. There can be a parliamentary by-election in Runcorn following the resignation of MP Mike Amesbury after being convicted for assaulting a constituent. Simultaneously, there can be elections for regional metro-mayors, who run massive, mixed authorities in locations reminiscent of Hull, Greater Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.

The Electoral Commission, the physique who oversees elections within the UK says on their web site: “There will be a pencil in the polling booth, but you can use your own pen or pencil if you prefer.”

Those who end up to vote can be in a position to take action with no matter writing instrument they select, though there are two sensible the explanation why pencil is commonly most well-liked.

Firstly, one is as a result of danger of pen ink smudging and spoiling the poll paper, thus making it invalid.

The second, is owing to the chance of ink transferring onto one other field when the poll is folded, which might make it troublesome to establish who the voter needed to pick.

It is important that the selection of candidate is made clear, with any ambiguity which means your poll runs the chance of being discarded.

The Commission advises: “mark ‘X’ next who you want to vote for on the ballot paper. You might be asked to vote for more than one person. Take your time to read everything. There will be instructions on the ballot paper and on posters in the polling station.”

However, the parable that pens are banned because it prevents voters from altering their thoughts while within the sales space is dismissed by the Electoral Commission.

The web site states: “If you make a mistake and need a new ballot paper, don’t worry – just speak to the staff and they can give you a new ballot paper, as long as you haven’t already put one in the ballot box.”