Mobile County Judge Counters Ballot Rumors Ahead of Vote
Probate Judge Mark Erwin says marks on a ballot will not trigger rejection unless they block the machine's read, and absentee numbers have risen since 2022.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
Mobile County Probate Judge Mark Erwin is pushing back against online claims that physical marks on a ballot could cause it to be rejected or signal tampering. With Election Day arriving Tuesday, the judge is asking voters to ignore the rumors so they do not stay home.
The circulating story suggests that any mark on a ballot indicates interference or will confuse the voting machine. Erwin stated that the machine only rejects a ballot if a mark interferes with its ability to read the selection.
"There’s nothing that I’m aware of that would disqualify a ballot because it had a mark on it, unless the mark interfered with the machine being able to read it," Erwin said. He called the widespread concern an internet hoax.
Erwin also addressed worries that a ballot might be tampered with before a voter receives it. He instructed voters to alert a poll worker immediately if they notice anything unusual. Poll workers can allow the voter to spoil the questionable ballot and issue a replacement.
"If someone feels like something has been done to their ballot before they start marking it themselves, then they can discuss that with the poll worker and perhaps spoil that ballot and get a new ballot," Erwin explained. He noted that a formal process exists for these situations.
Absentee voting activity in Mobile County has increased compared to the 2022 general election. In 2022, 3,906 absentee ballots were requested and 3,473 were returned. For the 2026 election, 4,042 ballots were requested and 3,684 have been returned so far.
Polls across Alabama will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Voters with questions about their ballots should speak with a poll worker at their assigned location.
