I got to my voting location in Chicago. Walked in, went to the “check in” counter to get my ballot. Turns out all voting machines were down and not working at the time. They proceeded to get my paper ballot ready. I signed the paper to get my ballot (no where on the piece of paper did it ask for my name) just my signature.

I asked if they needed my ID card. The woman politely said “no no no we are not checking identification cards. We use signature verification to make sure you are who you say you are.” Not too sure what process they have to match signatures but okay. Also no sure why I didn’t need to sign my actual ballot. Just the piece of paper at the check in counter which was not attached or submitted with my physical ballot.

Anyway, they gave me my paper ballot and a black sharpie. I immediately asked her “wasn’t there a whole issue last election and people claiming sharpies are messing up the ballots?”

Her response “oh yes, but just don’t press too hard. As long as it doesn’t bleed through it SHOULD be fine”. I said “should be!?!?! What does that mean???”

She then told me “well unfortunately sharpies are the only pens the city of Chicago has provided us with”

I filled out the ballot frustrated now at this point. Walked up to the submission box, and looked at my ballot before putting it in the machine - sure enough every vote I casted had bled through the ballot and made the back portion literally not legible”

But hey, IT SHOULD BE FINE……