Premium

Misinformation spreads fear and distrust ahead of US election day

The US government says foreign groups, including Russian influencers, are also spreading fake videos to stir up doubt.

Experts worry these rumours could impact people’s trust in the election results. (AP photo)

As Election Day nears, a wave of rumours and misinformation about voting and fraud is filling social media, increasing public distrust in the US election process. Many of these posts, mostly from conservative groups but some from Democrats, suggest possible irregularities that could impact the outcome. Supporters of former President Donald Trump, in particular, are amplifying claims that he could be unfairly denied victory, similar to his contested loss in 2020.

The US government says foreign groups, including Russian influencers, are also spreading fake videos to stir up doubt. Election officials across the country are busy debunking false claims while preparing for voting on Tuesday.

One recent example from Pennsylvania involved a video falsely suggesting ballot tampering. In reality, the video showed a postal worker delivering mail-in ballots, but it spread quickly online, viewed millions of times before officials clarified the facts.

Story continues below this ad

Experts worry these rumours could impact people’s trust in the election results. This echoes the events of 2020, when conspiracy theories led to claims of widespread fraud and ended in the Capitol riot on January 6. Now, some Trump supporters say only cheating could prevent him from winning.

Also Read: | US election heading towards photo finish as Trump, Harris narrow leads in swing states

Although minor election mistakes or isolated cases of fraud do happen, these are being exaggerated online, adding to the flood of misinformation. Groups like True the Vote are encouraging people to watch for and report alleged issues, while other groups, including one hosted by Elon Musk’s America PAC, allow users to share rumors and accusations in real time.

Election officials are urging voters to rely on trusted sources for accurate information, noting that strict safeguards are in place to protect votes. But with polls predicting a close election and potential delays in counting ballots, experts expect misinformation to continue beyond Election Day.

Also Read: | When to expect results in each state on US election night, and beyond

Luis Lozada, from Democracy Works, said, “Election officials are working hard to protect the vote, but false claims are making it tough to keep public trust.” He added, “This election is happening in an environment of distrust, and while accurate information is available, it’s hard to be heard above the noise.”

Story continues below this ad

With such a tight race, officials are preparing for misinformation to linger well past Tuesday’s vote.

(With inputs from BBC)

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

EXCLUSIVE: EC brings in feature to check misuse of identity to seek voter list deletions

Political Pulse2 min ago

The Election Commission has launched a new 'e-sign' feature on its portal and app to prevent fraud. This comes after allegations of misuse of online voter deletion forms in Karnataka. The feature requires voters to verify their identity using their Aadhaar-linked phone numbers, reducing the possibility of fraud.

View all shorts

Live Blog