Why do California ballot envelopes have holes? No.
The rumor is False
“Holes punched in California ballot return envelopes are proof the election is being rigged.”
The fact
The holes in California ballot return envelopes are a standard accessibility and counting feature, not a way to rig the election.
They guide sight-impaired voters to the signature line and let election workers confirm each envelope is empty after the ballot is removed. A video from Ventura County shows a ballot mark lining up with a hole when the ballot is inserted one particular way, but the county says the holes are not placed to show any contest and its envelopes are reused from one election to the next. Tampering with or discarding a ballot is a felony in California. If you are worried a choice could show, fold or turn your ballot so every mark faces inward before you seal the envelope.
How this story developed
- AP reports a video of a Ventura County return envelope spreading as proof of rigging. The county registrar says the holes are not placed to show any contest and voters may fold and insert the ballot in any order.