EU Referendum Conspiracy Theory #UsePens Has Turned Into Full Blown Hysteria

What is actually going on?
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As we're all aware the entire referendum campaign has been full to the brim with WTFs.

There have been flotillas, Brexit condoms and rants about bananas. There have been tweets about sniffing dirty socks and there have been #CatsAgainstBrexit.

But we've finally called it: we've found the thing that at last proves that we've lost the plot.

A conspiracy theory that someone would be rubbing out votes cast in favour of leaving the European Union began circulating on earlier this week, prompting the hashtag #usepens.

Some people appeared to take the claims seriously...

If voting take a pen, typically you'll be given a pencil meaning your vote could be erased #BrexitOrNot 🇬🇧

— tiara (@TAR_RAR) June 23, 2016

Don't forget your black pens tmoro people #usepens #VoteLeave 💪🏼🇬🇧

— Danielle Chamberlain (@DanChamberlainx) June 22, 2016

If there isn't a possibility of vote rigging, why are Remainiacs so angry that people are using pens? #usepens #Brexit #referendum

— Thomas Barks (@thomas_barks) June 23, 2016

Don't forget....take your own pens to vote on Thursday so they can't change your vote! #corrupt #EUref #VoteLeave

— Matt (@Matthew_Ramm90) June 21, 2016

Whatever you vote today..Keep your vote safe mark the box with a pen not pencil.. pic.twitter.com/xs4MMQWBOU

— J Edward #brexit (@jayofmeth) May 7, 2015

Well is there any point of me even voting if it's going to get rubbed out, why didn't I use a pen 😩 #ivevoted #usepens #fix

— Laurawig (@laurawig16) June 23, 2016

#usepens ? Too late. EU-funded UNISON leftists fiddled the postal votes by spoiling #Leave ballot papers for past 2 weeks #StolenReferendum

— Nick Griffin (@NickGriffinBU) June 23, 2016

THIS NEEDS TO GO VIRAL, POLICE CALLED, ppl were asked to use black pen on postal votes, BUT NOT ALLOWED IN PERON
https://t.co/0X8Zqgcj6j

— Supporting the Brits (@The_UK_NeedsYou) June 23, 2016

Others appeared to be taking it slightly less seriously...

Use a proper British Parker, as an EU Bic or Staedtler may have been tampered with. #usepens

— David Whitley (@mrdavidwhitley) June 23, 2016

If u plan to #usepens remember MI5 have gallons of tip-ex available. Use oil-based paints where you can.

— Alan White (@aljwhite) June 23, 2016

Look at this UKIP - ink erasers from GERMANY almost out of stock on Amazon. Coincidence? i don't think so... pic.twitter.com/nUCPozuCCL

— John O'Farrell (@mrjohnofarrell) June 23, 2016

MI5 definitely want to erase all our votes marked in pencil. I've taken a full set of watercolours and painted my vote in. #usepens

— LloydIN (@LloydieJL) June 23, 2016

i've heard that mi5 are tampering with ballots filled in using a pencil, so my leave vote will be cast via a marble statue of boris #usepens

— Peter Rowe (@peterroweurboat) June 23, 2016

#pencilgate #useapen pic.twitter.com/5TljPq9YAM

— Todd Fitzgerald (@TFitzgeraldMEN) June 23, 2016

I'm voting in my own blood. Let's see MI5 rub that out, am I right?

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 23, 2016

You know who always has a pen in his top pocket? #usepens #wakeupsheeple pic.twitter.com/uQFuNc07Fa

— David Mills (@DavidMills73) June 23, 2016

It ended up going so far that one council even felt the need to clarify the 'rules' on pens and pencils in the polling booth...

Please use a pencil on your ballot paper as ink can smudge when its folded which could make the paper doubtful & it may not be counted

— EastNorthantsCouncil (@ENCouncil) June 23, 2016

Following @ElectoralCommUK advice feel free to use a pen but make sure it doesn't smudge when folding so it is clear how you have voted 1/2

— EastNorthantsCouncil (@ENCouncil) June 23, 2016

2/2 Pencils have always been provided at polling stations for voters use

— EastNorthantsCouncil (@ENCouncil) June 23, 2016

Which in turn prompted more hysteria...

@ENCouncil Bullshit. Biro ink dries on contact with paper you muppets.

— Mug Punter (@Mug2Punter) June 23, 2016

@ENCouncil Does the pen smudge if it's folded? Let's find out. pic.twitter.com/ocKc0a9vwK

— Isaac Blackburn (@isaacblackburn7) June 23, 2016

@ENCouncil @kickinside Also it can be Rubbed Out ? Take your Own Black Pen !

— Charlie Martin (@mrcharliemartin) June 23, 2016

A pro-Brexit voter even complained about police being called after she offered to lend her pen to people to prevent the government rigging the result.

Jacqueline Jackson, who describes herself as “100% Ukip” and an “islamophobe with good reason” because the religion is “evil”, tweeted the complaint today.

Police came to Chichester polling station called by REMAIN side to stop me LENDING my PEN to all voters.#fraud pic.twitter.com/CGqra3yXR1

— Jacqueline Jackson (@willowhalegreen) June 23, 2016

A poll earlier this week revealed that a number of people believe that the EU referendum is rigged, has been infiltrated by MI5, and the BBC and ITN are conspiring to fix the result.

Almost half of those backing ‘Brexit’ believe it is "probably true" that the outcome is pre-determined, a YouGov poll for LBC found.

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