Holes in California ballot return envelopes are not tool for fraud

A video spreading online ahead of the pivotal 2026 US midterm elections is reviving debunked claims that the state of California uses holes punched in some counties' ballot return envelopes to illegally discard votes for specific candidates. But the holes are not designed to preview what is inside -- they provide a guide to assist visually impaired voters while also helping election workers ensure all ballots are counted -- and voters can fold their ballots several ways to prevent their selections from showing.