Mail-in ballots are arriving across Sacramento County for the Proposition 50 special election, and some voters say they’ve noticed something that worries them — small holes in their ballot envelopes.
Allen Wegat, one of those voters, said the holes could allow someone to see or even tamper with his vote, CBS News reported.
“If someone were unscrupulous and didn’t like how I voted, they could double-mark it, which would invalidate my vote,” Wegat said. “It makes it too easy for bad actors.”
Sacramento County’s vote-by-mail envelope design includes small circular holes on each side. When the ballot inside is folded a certain way, the marked bubble for Proposition 50 could become faintly visible through those holes.
Ken Casparis, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters, said election integrity is not at risk and the holes serve a legitimate purpose.
“The back of the card is left blank,” Casparis explained. “Just fold it, you’ve got nothing on either side of this, stick it in your ballot envelope.”
Election officials say the holes are not new and are standard practice across California. They’ve been part of the envelope design for years to help workers verify that envelopes are empty after processing and to assist visually impaired voters in locating where to sign.
Casparis said there are several ways to insert a ballot card into the envelope, and only a couple of those would make any markings visible. He said anyone concerned about privacy can simply fold the ballot so the blank back side faces outward before sealing it.
The Registrar’s Office said it has received a handful of emails this week from voters raising concerns about the holes. Officials said they understand the sensitivity but stress that no voter’s selection can be clearly identified through them.
“If the ballot is folded correctly, nothing is visible,” Casparis said.
Election officials are advising all voters to make sure their ballots are folded and sealed so that no marks can be seen before mailing or dropping them off.
But the assurances from state officials did not stop those who believe something nefarious is afoot from voicing concerns.
“Sent to me by a follower. Voters in multiple California counties, including San Francisco, are reporting that their ballots have holes which reveal if they voted “NO” on Prop 50 Prop 50 would allow California to redistrict its state. This needs to be investigated immediately,” the popular LibsOfTikTok X account said.
“HOLY CR*P. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting election is going to be RIGGED California resident got her ballot: If you Vote No on prop 50 to stop the redistricting, it shows through the envelope This makes it easier for Democrats to identify them and throw them in the trash,” another popular account, Wall Street Apes, said.
Proposition 50 would shift five of California’s U.S. House seats to be more favorable to Democrats in next year’s midterm elections, a move backers say would balance Texas’ newly redrawn congressional districts that favor Republicans.