What was claimed
Marking a ballot in pen means your vote goes to the party in power.
Our verdict
False. Using a pen does not send votes go to the incumbent party in Australian elections.
AAP FACTCHECK - A foreign-run Facebook account is sharing misinformation about Australian voting rules by claiming using a pen to fill in a ballot paper sends a vote to the party in power.
While polling places in Australia provide pencils for practicality, filling in the ballot with a pen does not change the vote.
The claim is being shared in multiple Australian Facebook groups focused on Australian news and politics.
"Why wen [sic] voting do we have to fill in our voting slip in pencil? Biro would stop any chance of the voting slip being altered," a November 4 post from an account called 'Deutschland Nachrichten' reads.
"But apparently if u take ur own pen nd use it ur vote goes to the party in power [sic]. If anyone knows the answer please tell."
While the account has a German name and profile picture, it regularly posts about Australian issues, and Meta's transparency data reveals the page is actually run from Spain.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) said voters' choice of writing stationery did not impact how a vote was counted.
"Votes only flow according to the order of numbers written on the ballot paper," a spokesperson told AAP FactCheck.
The spokesperson said the AEC provided pencils at polling booths because they were cheaper to buy and still worked after long storage in humid, tropical environments.
While voters can choose to bring their own pencil or pen, the AEC cautioned that ink can sometimes smudge and make it harder to read a voter's numbering.
"But that’s ultimately a consideration for individual voters," the spokesperson said.
The claim is being shared online ahead of the November 28 state election in Victoria.
The Victorian Electoral Commission also said the claim was false.
"Using a pen does not mean the vote goes to the party in power," the spokesperson said.
"We will not change your vote – tampering or interfering with someone’s vote is an offence."
Pencils were offered at voting centres because they do not dry out or get jammed and can be easily reused, they said.
"Voters are welcome to bring their own pencils or pen if they choose," the spokesperson said.
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