We are now less than a week away from Election Day. So, it should be no surprise that a surge of misinformation is spreading ahead of the day you cast your ballot. No matter how you choose to vote, you should be able to do so without myths swaying your decision.
The New York Times sets out to clear up a few falsehoods and rumors. Here’s the simple version of what may not be precisely true.
Are voting machines really rigged? Well, anything is possible, but according to the New York Times, the claim is not entirely accurate. Voting machines can have programming errors just like any technology, but data shows these errors are rare. Elections officials are also required to test equipment before and after Election Day. Regardless, the topic is a significant concern. Voting machines were a top voting-related mention on Twitter for the month of October.
How many people are really risking jail time for voter fraud? Last month, the founder of the activist group CleanElections USA claimed vote trafficking was happening in Maricopa County. She spread the rumor of illegal ballot box stuffing on Truth Social. It’s believed Democrats are responsible for unlawful ballot box stuffing. This rumor stems from the movie “2000 Mules”, which suggests the act can be traced through cellphone location data.
Dead people have cast a few ballots in a past election, but there’s no proof illegal immigrants are heading to election polls or drop boxes. In 2020, it was found ballots were cast in the name of people who were dead. In Present-day, politicians like Representative Matt Gaetz claim Democrats want illegal immigrants to vote. His post is now gaining thousands of views across social media
Don’t trust mail-in ballots. The hashtag #GetOutAndVoteInPerson has spread widely on social media to warn against mail-in voting. It allegedly stems from stories like a recent one spread by conspiracy theorists claiming that a mail truck carrying ballots in Georgia was intentionally set on fire last month. Those claims have been denied.
Yes, delays in counting votes do happen, but it’s not uncommon or a legitimate sign of a voting scandal. Tallying a final count takes days in many states, depending on the number of mail-in ballots. It also depends on state-by-state voting laws. For example, officials in Pennsylvania can not begin counting mail-in votes until Tuesday morning.
In conclusion, it may be best to forget all the social media hype while casting your ballot. Use facts and your beliefs as a measuring tool to vote how you want.
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