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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

In elections why do we use a pencil, rather than a pen, to mark the ballot paper?

A stubby pencil on a string used in polling booth
Stubby choice in the polling booth ... Photograph: Alamy

Millions of people have just voted in the European elections. Why do we use a pencil to mark our choice on the ballot paper? Wouldn’t indelible ink be a better choice – and less likely to be tampered with?

Raymond Shaw, Luton, Beds

Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com

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