On Election Day, baseless claims of voter fraud were circulating on social media, causing doubts about the integrity of the election. Posts on various platforms pointed to incidents such as technical issues with voting machines and spelling errors on ballots as evidence of a supposed conspiracy. Former President Donald Trump also made claims about cheating in Pennsylvania, which officials said had no factual basis. However, as the votes were counted, and it became clear that Trump was winning, the number of posts questioning the integrity of the election decreased significantly, indicating that these narratives are pushed for a specific purpose and are not maintained once they are no longer needed.
The “Election Integrity Community,” a group of nearly 65,000 started by Elon Musk’s political action committee, was a hub for speculation and unfounded rumors before Election Day. However, as the results favored Trump, the number of posts drastically decreased. Mentions of voting machines in Pennsylvania and Michigan also decreased significantly as the election results became clear. There were technical issues in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, causing voting machines to be temporarily down, leading to baseless claims of nefarious activities. Researchers noted similarities between this narrative and the one surrounding election issues in Maricopa County, Arizona, in 2022.
Although the volume of election rumors has decreased, false claims are still spreading, particularly in races that have not yet been called. In Arizona, false claims about voter turnout and doubts about the validity of results are being circulated on social media. However, the level of posts questioning Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss is not as high as the efforts to dispute the 2020 election results. Elected officials have not cast doubt on the outcome of the election, with Harris urging all Americans to accept the results in her concession speech. The fundamental principle of American democracy is that election results must be accepted, and anyone seeking public trust must honor them.
Researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the Center for an Informed Public are closely monitoring social media for misinformation surrounding elections. They emphasize the importance of distinguishing between technical glitches or irregularities and baseless claims of election fraud. The narrative around election issues, such as voting machine errors, can be manipulated to fuel doubts about the integrity of the election results. It is crucial to address and debunk false claims to ensure the public has accurate information about the electoral process.
As the election results are finalized and winners are declared, efforts to cast doubt on the validity of the outcome tend to decrease. False claims about missing votes or irregularities in voter turnout are used by both sides of the political spectrum to question election results. However, the overall volume of posts questioning the legitimacy of the election has decreased compared to previous election cycles. It is essential for elected officials and the public to uphold the principles of American democracy by accepting election results and honoring the trust placed in the electoral process.
