The Marion County Election Board is pushing back on a viral online claim that a ballot can be disqualified if anyone marks it. The message has been circulating since 2020.
“Ballots are not disqualified or segregated for having marks or initials on them,” Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said in a statement Friday.
Under Indiana law, every ballot must carry two sets of initials from poll workers, one Democrat and one Republican, in a designated space on the back of the ballot card. That applies to Election Day, in-person early voting and absentee-by-mail ballots. The board cited IC 3-6-6-32 and IC 3-11-10-27(c).
According to the board, in-person early voters receive a ballot that already has two sets of initials after they present identification. The board said voters should confirm both sets are there before voting. Early voters should also make sure two poll worker signatures and their own signature are on the secrecy envelope before they put it in the ballot box.
On Election Day, poll workers initial the ballot before handing it to a voter who has presented valid identification. The voter marks the ballot, reviews it and feeds it into the tabulating machine.
Sweeney Bell said the rumors are likely started by bad-faith actors. She added that research suggests they could be coming from foreign operatives. The statement did not identify that research.
Voters with questions can call the Election Board at (317) 327-5100 or visit Vote.Indy.gov.
