With less than a week until the 2026 midterm elections, social‑media posts are circulating false narratives about ballot handling and candidate listings. These claims threaten confidence in a process that election officials across the country say is secure, transparent, and overseen by bipartisan staff.
California envelope holes are an accessibility feature, not a rigging tool
A video posted online shows a Ventura County ballot return envelope with a punched hole and suggests the hole lets voters see a Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s choice. Simone Seydoux, spokesperson for the Ventura County Clerk‑Recorder & Registrar of Voters, clarified that the envelope design follows a standard set by the California Secretary of State. Each envelope has two holes: one assists vision‑impaired voters in locating the signature line, and the other runs through the entire envelope so workers can verify it is empty after the ballot is removed. Zip ties are sometimes inserted through the larger hole for secure storage.
“The holes are NOT positioned to view any particular contest,” Seydoux wrote. “Envelopes are ordered ahead of time and reused when possible, and voters may fold and place their ballot in any order.” The California Secretary of State’s office echoed this, noting the holes are an accessibility measure and that voters can insert ballots in ways that keep all choices hidden.
New York sample ballot shows no missing conservative candidates
A TikTok user claimed a Manhattan Community College polling site gave her two ballots, one allegedly missing conservative candidates. The sample ballot for that site contains two double‑sided pages, with the second page listing only judicial races. In those races, no conservative or Republican candidates were on the ballot because none were nominated by those parties.
Kathleen McGrath, spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections, explained that the absence of party lines simply reflects the fact that no individual was nominated by the Conservative Party for those offices. Voters still have the option to write in a candidate if they wish. McGrath also clarified New York’s voter‑ID process: voters provide a DMV number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering, and may present a photo ID or a government document at the polls if additional verification is needed.
Touchscreen voting machines are not flipping votes
Another viral claim alleges that touchscreen voting machines in several states are changing Democratic votes to Republican. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said most of these reports stem from understandable human error or minor screen miscalibrations. Voters can review a printed paper record before finalizing their ballot, and poll workers are available to assist with any issues.
ExpressVote ballot‑marking devices, produced by Election Systems & Software (ES&S), are used in many of the reported locations. Katina Granger, senior manager of public relations for ES&S, confirmed the company works closely with election officials and has not been made aware of any widespread malfunction this cycle. She advised voters who notice a printed ballot that does not match their selections to notify a poll worker immediately so the correct procedure can be followed.
Poll workers may mark ballots, but those ballots remain valid
Some posts suggest that ballots marked by poll workers will be disqualified in the 2026 midterms. Election officials note that while procedures vary by jurisdiction, it is not uncommon for poll workers to assist voters with marking ballots, especially those who need help due to disability or language barriers. Such ballots are counted as long as they follow the jurisdiction’s rules and are properly documented.
Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with local voting procedures, verify their ballot selections, and seek assistance from poll workers when needed. As election officials stress, the voting process remains secure, transparent, and administered by bipartisan staff dedicated to upholding the integrity of every vote.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
