PHX Reporter

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell sent a cease-and-desist letter Aug. 2 asking county supervisor candidate Gail Golec to stop telling voters to steal pens provided at polling sites as in-person voting began.

“Election Day in AZ! Do not drop off your ballot. It will not be counted today b4 they call the races,” Golec said Aug. 2 on Twitter. “Exchange your ballot after voiding it and get an Election Day ballot. Vote in Blue Ink!"

Golec,a candidate for the District 2 seat of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, allegedly claimed that the use of Pentel felt-tip pens bleeds through paper ballots and creates “ghosts votes,” that can change the outcome of the election, according to a story by AZFamily.

In response to Mitchell’s letter, Golec said that her “Intention is to Protect Our Vote, not encourage you to steal pens,” the story stated.

"Ironically, concerned about law breaking, Maricopa County is really afraid that people will steal the pens,” Golec said in the tweet. “What if they ran out and they did not get enough ballots into the adjudication cycle?”

Various posts on social media have suggested that election officials in Maricopa County provided voters with Sharpie pens in 2020,and those pens interfered with ballots being recorded those for President Donald Trump. Golec’s claims came in response to an announcement by county election officials that they were switching to Pentel brand felt-tip pens on Election Day. 

Golec has been endorsed by both Trump and My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, the story said.

Pentel pens were selected for use because they have fast-drying ink when compared to ballpoint pens, the story stated. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer urged those voting in the primary to only use the provided pens to prevent technical problems.

"More than 18K voters have successfully cast a ballot in person so far today,” the elections department said in a tweet. “Minor tech issues have been resolved as well as reports of stolen pens. Please do not remove any voting materials from the polling place, including pens."

However, some Republicans and their supporters on social media encouraged voters to defy that statement.

Rep. Shawnna Bolick, who is running for secretary of state, said she planned to bring her own ballpoint pen for in-person voting, and Republican Party chairperson Kelli Ward told her Twitter followers to “use whatever pen you want,” but ensure their ballot is dry, the story said.

Richer repeated his advice to voters to only use the provided pens.

“Just as we tell voters they shouldn’t use red pens, shouldn’t use pencil, shouldn’t use crayon, we are telling voters that – to help us ensure an accurate and smooth election – you should use the Pentel pen if you are voting in-person on election day,” Richer said in an email to the Associated Press.