Several posts on social media have made false or misleading claims alleging voter suppression and voting fraud across the United States.
Viral Voting Misinformation
Tag: 2020 Election
False Claim of Voter Intimidation in New Jersey
A popular Democratic Facebook page falsely claimed that “Trump supporters are blocking access to polling sites” in a New Jersey town on Election Day. Local police called the report “entirely false.” The photo cited in the post was taken two days earlier.
Antifa ‘False Flag’ Flyer Is an Old Hoax
A viral blog post falsely claims that an “Antifa flyer” shows that left-wing activists are planning to masquerade as supporters of President Donald Trump and riot following the election. The purported flyer cited as evidence has been around since 2017.
Bogus Posts Claim ‘Poll Worker’ Tossed Ballots in Pennsylvania
A bogus post on Instagram purports to be from an Erie County, Pennsylvania, poll worker who claimed he threw out over 100 pro-Trump ballots. The chair of the Erie County Board of Elections says the man “does not work in any way with Erie County or have any part of Erie County’s election process.”
Posts Misinterpret Video of North Carolina Voter Rally
Social media posts falsely claim that a video shows get-out-the-vote marchers in North Carolina were pepper-sprayed by police because they were “blocking polls & intimidating voters.” The nearest voting place was a block away from the marchers’ rally, and the governor said the police engaged in “voter intimidation.”
Pennsylvania Voters Told to Quarantine Can Still Cast a Ballot
Pennsylvania voters told to quarantine due to potential COVID-19 exposure are entitled to vote and can request and return an emergency absentee ballot through 8 p.m. on Election Day. A viral Facebook post misleadingly suggests they are being disenfranchised.
The 2020 FactCheck Awards
It’s an Election Day tradition: our awards for off-beat political ads.
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.
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.