Election Officials Explain Viral Claims on Ballot Holes, Missing Names, and Vote Flips

Election officials in California and New York have pushed back against viral online claims that suggest ballot errors indicate widespread fraud. With Election Day less than a week away, social media posts are circulating with specific allegations about voting mechanics. Officials state that the issues raised, including holes in envelopes and missing candidate names, follow standard design guidelines and local regulations.

The first wave of confusion involves ballot return envelopes in Ventura County, California. A video posted on X shows a punched hole on the front of an envelope. The creator claims that if a ballot is inserted in a specific way, the selection for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra is visible through the hole. A man in the video warns voters to be careful how they place their ballot in the envelope. A popular post described this as proof that California is rigging elections.

Simone Seydoux, spokesperson for the Office of the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, said the envelope design follows standards recommended by the state secretary of state. She explained that the holes serve as accessibility features for voters who are vision impaired. One hole allows workers to verify the envelope is empty after a ballot is removed. Workers also use zip ties to secure stacks of these envelopes for storage. Seydoux noted that the holes are not positioned to reveal a specific vote. The county’s 2026 ballot consists of three double-sided cards. Voters can fold the ballot and insert it in any order.

The California secretary of state’s office confirmed in an Instagram post that the small holes are an accessibility feature. The office stated that if a voter is concerned their choices might be visible, they can insert the ballot in various ways to hide all selections.

In New York City, a TikTok user claimed she received two ballots at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, one of which was missing conservative candidates. The sample ballot for that location consists of two double-sided pages. One side of the second page lists judicial races. Kathleen McGrath, a spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections, explained that there are no Republican or Conservative Party candidates listed in those four judicial races because no individual was nominated by those parties. She said all contests offer a write-in space for voters who do not like the printed choices. McGrath added that New York City has used multi-page ballots for many years.

The woman in the video also noted that she was not required to show a photo ID at the polls. In New York, voters provide a Department of Motor Vehicles number or the last four digits of their social security number during registration. McGrath clarified that voters verify their identity via signature at the polls if additional identification was already verified during registration. Two bipartisan poll workers review the signature to ensure it matches the voter record.

Claims of vote flipping on touchscreen machines are also spreading. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said almost all claims of vote flipping are human error. He compared the issue to a user making a mistake on a smartphone. Katina Granger, senior manager of public relations for Election Systems and Software, said the company has not been made aware of any widespread issue with voting machines this cycle. She advised voters to notify a poll worker if a printed ballot does not reflect their intended selections. The company provides technical support when needed.

Finally, some online posts claim that ballots marked by poll workers will be disqualified. Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, said marking ballots is normal procedure in many jurisdictions. In North Carolina, workers write P for provisional or A for absentee in a corner of the ballot. In Illinois, ballots are initialed before being issued to voters. Smith encouraged voters to check with their local election officials rather than relying on social media for rules.