WARNING: Do not use Sharpies on your ballots! -- They bleed through.

[Bozita]

I wasn't going to be caught with any partially-filled bubbles. After completing the front side and flipping the ballot over, the bleeding was obvious. My ballot had candidates on both sides. I completed the voting with a blue Bic.

When I took it to the City Clerk's office and mentioned my problem, I was issued a new ballot.

[eShirl]

1. Also, make sure whether the ballot instructions say, "use #2 pencil ONLY."

That happened to me. Finished my ballot w/ black pen & sealed it, then my husband opened his ballot and it had instructions (which were missing from mine) on a pink insert saying to only use #2 pencil.

Glad we got our absentee ballots early!

[sandnsea]

4. Exactly, check the directions

Ours require ball point only, but some systems do use pencils. Although I don't know that I'd be comfortable with a pencil these days either. But yeah, the main thing is to check the directions.

[hopein08]

5. My sister was confused on her absentee ballot re: the pencil/pen thing...

She told me that one page said "use medium black pen" and the second page said "use black or blue pen or #2 pencil." She said that she took the average choice and used a black pen, then hoped for the best.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Prez. Bush ALWAYS writes with a Sharpie. 'Nuff said!! nt

[Bozita]

3. kick