Bruynzeel Pencils featured in Dutch Elections
Today is the day we vote for our national Parliamentary election! Did you know that the Dutch people use red Bruynzeel pencils to indicate their vote in the Netherlands? These red pencils are often called “voting pencils” and are used because their vibrant colour is hard to erase and makes it easier for the votes to be counted. Ballots that are marked with a different colour are invalid and will not be counted.
Colour of the National Flag
The shade of the pencils, called Vermillion (931), is the same shade of red that is used in our national flag! The pencils are sharpened before use and shaped like a hexagon, which makes it less likely to roll away.
Back to voting ballots
Starting in 1966, the ‘old-fashioned’ system of voting ballots and coloured pencils was gradually replaced with an automated system, but when it came to light that these systems were not as reliable and sensitive to hacking, the pencil was brought back in 2009.
Take your red pencil home
Due to the corona measures, voters in certain provinces are allowed to take their voting pencils home this year. In other areas, however, the pencils will be collected and recycled or cleaned for future use.
Bruynzeel is proud to be able to contribute to the Dutch voting system.
Latest news
