Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) lends credibility to a social media conspiracy theory known as SharpieGate by contacting the Arizona attorney general’s office.
According to the conspiracy, at least one county in Arizona invalidated countless votes for Trump by giving Trump supporters Sharpie markers to fill out their ballots.
In reality, using a Sharpie does not invalidate a ballot.
Clint Hickman, the Republican chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, and Steve Gallardo, the board’s only Democrat, published a letter to voters expressing concern about misinformation. They said officials tested a wide variety of pens with their vote-tabulation equipment and “Sharpies are recommended by the manufacturer because they provide the fastest-drying ink.”
NBC New York / Associated Press
He continues to push the conspiracy throughout the evening even after it is debunked. Later, he attends a protest at a vote-counting center.
Sources
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/decision-2020/claim-that-sharpie-pens-invalidate-arizona-ballots-debunked/2705410/?amp
https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2020/11/04/sharpiegate-arizona-media-punchline/6168652002/
https://tulsaworld.com/news/national/sharpiegate-claim-that-sharpie-pens-ruin-ballots-misses-the-mark/article_5529dbad-e31a-5159-b1eb-607232c926bf.html
Photo: Gage Skidmore
