Voters across England will be casting their votes in the local elections today. Some 200 local authorities have been preparing for the big day, while hundreds of hopefuls are eager to gain seats in Greater Manchester.
But why are polling stations traditionally stocked with pencils instead of pens? Pencils, usually attached to a string inside the polling booth, have always been supplied in polling stations for local elections, general elections and referenda.
But the Electoral Commission (EC) was forced to explain why when the issue was raised by a concerned voter. Kenneth Priestly wrote to the commission to say: "It has come to my attention that pencils have been used in poling stations, the mark is erasable. Given this could give arise to fraud why don't you use and supply black pens."
