It’s an Election Day tradition: our awards for off-beat political ads.
The 2020 FactCheck Awards
Video Doesn’t Show Voter Fraud in Utah
A video suggesting that there’s been “voter fraud” in Utah has been circulating online, but all it actually shows is a misunderstanding of a poll worker’s mistake on the first day of early, in-person voting. The mistake was corrected and the system worked, as intended.
Closing Arguments of the Presidential Campaign
We fact-check claims the candidates made in rallies and TV ads in the days before Election Day.
Mailbag: Biden’s Claymont Childhood Home
This week, a reader sent us a comment about our article on social media posts that misquoted former Vice President Joe Biden as saying he grew up in Section 8 housing.
Instagram Post Misleads on ‘Ballot Box’ Posters
A popular Instagram post suggests nefarious actors are misrepresenting trash cans in Philadelphia as ballot boxes. The signs seen in the images were actually part of a poorly conceived advertising effort for an exhibit about voting rights — and they were quickly removed.
A Guide to the Candidates’ Claims
This is a guide to key stories we did during the 2020 election between Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.
Trump’s Partisan Spin on Reopening States
President Trump falsely contrasted COVID-19 policies in two Western states, claiming Republican-led Arizona is open but Democratic-led Nevada is closed. Both states are in similar stages of reopening.
False Claim About ‘Pre-Filled Out Ballots’ in Queens
A false claim circulating on social media alleges that mail-in ballots already filled out with votes for Democrats, including Joe Biden, were sent to voters in a New York City borough. A spokesperson for the New York City Board of Elections told us the ballot that triggered the allegation was the result of a voter’s error.
Can You Change Your Vote? Probably Not.
Q: Can people who cast their ballots in early voting change their vote?
A: In most states, no. By our count, there are eight states that specifically allow for early voters to change their votes.
Trump’s False Claims About Dairy Farms
In Wisconsin, President Trump falsely claimed the state’s dairy farms were “decimated” under the Obama/Biden administration but “now … are doing very well,” and he greatly overstated the potential impact of the new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.