• Election 2015 badge

Conspiracy Theorists Are Worried About Their Votes Being Rubbed Out

"Apparently you have to vote in pencil instead of pen this year... Suspicious??"

There are lots of people on Twitter advising voters to take a pen to the polling booth in case their votes are rubbed out.

Whatever you vote today..Keep your vote safe mark the box with a pen not pencil..

A Twitter user calling himself Ern Malley has been retweeting dozens of them.

Call me PARANOID but I used by own pen to #vote rather than the pencil provided.

A lot of them seem to be UKIP voters.

Make sure you take a black pen to vote don't use the pencil provided . The pencil can be rubbed out and re marked #UKIP #voteUKIPgetUKIP

Good advice, take a pen when you vote tomorrow, a pencil can be erased. Especially if you vote for UKIP like me.

@GoadJames @Vote_UKIP use a pen not a pencil!

Make sure you take your own pen with you to vote (black ink). Don't forget, pencil is easily erased #UKIP

Don't forget to vote people, the time has come !!! ALSO use a PEN not a PENCIL 👀👀👀 #UKIP 🇬🇧

@LBC @VOTEUKIP Use a pen so they can't rub it out! http://t.co/EVDR5hREFd

ALL UKIPERS PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE A BLACK INK PEN TOMORROW , DONT ADVERTISE UKIP WHEN YOU ENTER AS YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE , VOTE UKIP

Beware of voting fraud,take a pen with you. The establishment will stop at nothing to keep UKIP out.

Vote #UKIP with a PEN not a pencil. #Socialist fraud is everywhere. #Labour #GE2015 #votingmatters

If you're voting today - don't forget to take a Pen !! Better safe than sorry with so many #Labour morons up on fraud charges. Vote #UKIP !!

Remember ukippers take your own pen to vote,pencils very dodgy

USE A BLACK INK PEN OR BIRO TODAY BECAUSE PENCIL MARKS CAN BE EASILY RUBBED OUT ESPECIALLY IF IT IS FOR A UKIP VOTE !

Use a black ink pen to vote with today. Pencils open to fraud. #VoteUKIP2015

But there's paranoia north of the border, too, among SNP voters scared of dirty tricks by the "bastirt Tories".

@PeterMurrell Also you don't have to use pencil provided. Secure your vote. Use black pen. #voteSNP #GE15

TWITTER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT Take your own pen with you when you vote don't use the pencil The bastirt Tories will rub your vote out

As you might expect, there's been a certain amount of mockery from other Twitter users.

.@nickjbarlow @loveandgarbage The lizards abducted me in a BLACK HELICOPTER and forced me to change my vote with THE PROBE.

@loveandgarbage I bought my own pre-printed ballot paper and punched the polling station officer in the face.

@ExcelPope @loveandgarbage 'Why has Barry turned up for work with a huge eraser and a black felt tip?' 'Helps him count the votes he says'

@loveandgarbage I tattoo mine on my hand then cut off my hand and post it in the ballot box. Trust no one.

@loveandgarbage I vote by writing the X in my own blood so it can be DNA-tested and traced back to me in the event of fraud allegations.

@loveandgarbage I thought we were all getting stone ballot papers this time? Gutted.

@loveandgarbage Using a powerful laser I etch mine on to the surface of a flawless diamond before setting it in a block of solid steel alloy

But it's not only voters for the nationalist parties who've got the heebie-jeebies. Lots of people who don't give their allegiance are concerned.

Just been to vote. I had to use a pencil! Surely this should be a pen so no one can change the forms later!? @wandbc #getvotingpeople

take a pen to vote not there pencil

Dont forget to take a black pen when you vote. Don't use the pencil #GE2015

Don't forget when you Vote Tomorrow. USE A PEN,don't use the pencil,they provide. leaves your ballot paper open to cheating.

Whoever you vote for tomorrow remember to take a pen with you. Don't use the pencils provided. Your vote can be erased & changed. #GE2015

Remember to take a pen to the polling booth today. Don't vote with a pencil. #GE2015

Whatever you do today, whoever you vote for, please use a pen! #GE2015

@guardian @GuardianWitness use a pen, not a pencil. Be sure your vote counts. Provided you have rcvd your vote card yet of course!

Don't vote with a pencil take a pen we all know how corrupt these elections can be.

Why do we place our vote in pencil and not pen...? Hmmmmm

Apparently you have to vote in pencil instead of pen this year... Suspicious??

Brought my own pen to the polling station cause do I fuck trust casting my vote using a pencil.

Just been to vote. I had to use a pencil! Surely this should be a pen so no one can change the forms later!? @wandbc #getvotingpeople

This isn't the first time people have had this worry. During the Scottish independence referendum, some voters had the same concern.

Is it only me that asked to vote in pen today, found it quite conspicuous that we had to vote in pencil #indyref #VoteYesScotland

Completed my vote for Yes ❎ although I took a pen with me as I'm not stupid enough to use there pencil anit nobody changing my yes #indyref

Bring a pen to vote ! No official paper should be filled out in pencil #indyref #VoteYes ✌️❤️

There isn't really anything to worry about, though.

@DavidNHead it's bollocks. Each ballot box is sealed. Seals are broken at the count. Each party has representatives there

And if you're still wondering why we're given pencils rather than pens, here's an alternative explanation.

Was wondering why they give you a pencil to make your vote rather than a pen. Then decided it’s probs cause pens would get stollen. 💁