"We know you're hearing issues about Sharpie Markers. We need to use markers on election day." #SharpieGate

An email sent by Kelly Dixon, the Maricopa County Elections Recruitment and Training Assistant Director, has raised further questions regarding #Sharpiegate.

"We NEED to use Markers on Election Day."

Kelly's email acknowledges that there have been issues with Sharpie markers:

"We've heard you and we know you're hearing issues and concerns about the Sharpie Markers."

Given the issues with Sharpie markers, the email then goes on to advice handing out ballpoint pens to voters. However, rather suspiciously, Kelly instructs that ballpoint pens should only be used for specific dates:

"Starting tomorrow, 10/23, and through 11/2, we are asking that Clerks hand voters BALLPOINT PENS rather than markers. We NEED to use Markers on Election Day, but for now and through 11/2, hand voters a Ballpoint Pen."

Given that there are issues with Sharpie markers, why would Kelly encourage clerks to switch to Sharpie markers on election day? On 11/3 do markers magically start working? Do the issues magically disappear on election day?

Or could the fact that democrats mostly vote early, and President Trump supporters mostly vote on election day have anything to do with why Kelly advised clerks to hand out Sharpie markers on election day?

There is no possible defense against this. Either they had problems with Sharpies or they didn't. There was no magical fix which meant Sharpies somehow started working on election day. Kelly's instructions in her email were given for one reason and one reason only. This needs to be investigated and Kelly Dixon needs to be prosecuted.

Election integrity is not optional. This is not a game. Kelly Dixon has openly instructed election clerks to hand out ballpoint pens on the days when most democrat voters were expected to vote, and hand out Sharpie markers on the day when most President Trump supporters were expected to vote. She did this knowing there were problems with Sharpie markers.

On a final note, since the email came to light, Kelly has deleted her twitter account which was formerly @kellycanhire. However, the Maricopa County Elections Department is still on twitter at @MaricopaVote.

#SharpieGate