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Who is Gail Golec? Arizona GOP candidate gets 'cease-and-desist' notice over PEN THEFT at polling booths

The use of Pentel felt-tip pens sparked conspiracy theories about ink bleeding through the ballots and resulting in inconsistent results

A top prosecutor in Maricopa County issued a 'cease-and-desist' letter to a Republican candidate who suggested felt-tip pens can't be trusted. On primary election day in Arizona, voters were reported to have stolen them from at least two polling locations.

Gail Golec, a Republican candidate for county supervisor, received the letter from Attorney General Rachel Mitchell on Tuesday, August 2, urging her to withdraw her "call to steal the pens" and "immediately tweet a retraction, acknowledging that no one should steal pens from voting locations and urging that no one should do so." According to the New York Times, at least two polling places, Desert Hills Community Church of the Nazarene in Phoenix and Faith Baptist Church in Glendale, reported missing pens.

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“Ironically, concerned about law-breaking, Maricopa County is really afraid that people will steal the pens,” Golec said in a tweet responding to Mitchell’s letter. “What if they ran out and they did not get enough ballots into the adjudication cycle? My intention is to Protect Our Vote, not encourage you to steal pens.”

"Election day in AZ! Do not drop off your ballot. It will not be counted today b4 they call the races. Exchange your ballot after voiding it and get an Election Day ballot. Vote in Blue Ink! #StopTheSteal #LeaveNoPentelBehind" Golec tweeted later.

Golec told Telegram followers early Tuesday, August 2, that when they go to vote, they should use the felt-tip pen provided by the polling location and "leave a blue pen behind." She claimed, "They will eventually run out!" Throughout her campaign, Golec has promoted the claim that the 2020 election was "stolen," several times. Election officials and the courts have flatly denied allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

The use of Pentel felt-tip pens sparked conspiracy theories about ink bleeding through the ballots and resulting in inconsistent findings. Maricopa County officials have assured voters that these pens will work. "Just as we tell voters not to use red pens, pencils, or crayons, we are telling voters that if you are voting in-person on election day, you should use the Pentel pen to help us ensure an accurate and smooth election," Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer told the Associated Press.

The Maricopa County Elections Department encouraged voters in a tweet to use the "fast-drying felt-tip pens provided in the voting booths," as "slow drying ink like ballpoint pens, can easily smear inside the ballot counting machine and cause delays at the polls."

So far, cases of pen theft during this primary season do not appear to have prevented the county (that includes Phoenix) from allowing voters to cast ballots. "We've resupplied those," county recorder spokesman Marcus Milam told the New York Times. "[They] will not run out."

Golec is a 'Save America' Republican and also a very successful entrepreneur. She has also worked with many organizations across the US. Golec was elected to be the National Delegate Alternate to represent her District at the Republican National Convention to nominate former President Donald Trump for the 2020 Election.