2024 Presidential Election: Misleading Claims Rise in Key States

As the 2024 election cycle ramps up, a deluge of false claims and disinformation has circulated across social media, raising concerns about election integrity. Despite efforts to clarify and address these claims, misinformation is rapidly spreading online, particularly through social media platforms.

Kentucky Voting Machine Error Misinterpreted as Fraud

CLAIM: A viral video from Laurel County, Kentucky, shows a voting machine switching a vote for former President Donald Trump to Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to accusations of electoral fraud.

FACTS: According to Laurel County Clerk Tony Brown, this incident was due to user error, not fraud. Brown explained that voters must tap directly in the center of each box on the touchscreen to register a vote accurately. In this case, pressing near the edge of the box caused the machine to select the incorrect candidate.

The machine was temporarily removed from service and investigated by the Kentucky attorney general’s office. After testing, it was found to function properly when used as intended. Brown’s Facebook posts demonstrated the proper method for using the machine and confirmed that no other complaints had arisen from voters either before or after the incident.

The video, which shows someone off-camera attempting to vote for Trump and inadvertently selecting Harris, fueled claims of election fraud but, according to officials, does not depict fraudulent activity. Former Louisville elections director James Young affirmed on social media that the footage does not indicate any “vote flipping” fraud.

Fabricated Video of Haitian Immigrant Voting Multiple Times in Georgia

CLAIM: Another viral video purportedly features a man identifying himself as a Haitian immigrant claiming he would vote multiple times in Georgia.

FACTS: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger labeled this video as “obviously fake,” linking it to Russian influence efforts to spread disinformation. The video, confirmed by U.S. intelligence officials as inauthentic, was likely intended to disrupt voter confidence and stir discord among Americans. Intelligence officials warned of similar disinformation campaigns by Russian actors aimed at undermining trust in the electoral process.

The man in the video claimed he intended to vote multiple times in Georgia’s Gwinnett and Fulton counties, flashing several alleged Georgia IDs. Experts pointed out that the video is part of a broader attempt by known Russian disinformation groups to incite controversy and skepticism about the U.S. election.

Routine Ballot Collection in Pennsylvania Misconstrued as Fraud

CLAIM: A video showing a man delivering ballots to a courthouse in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, was shared online, alleging voter fraud.

FACTS: Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure clarified that the individual shown in the footage was a local postmaster performing his official duty of delivering collected ballots. He condemned the harassment faced by the postmaster due to the video’s misrepresentation and noted that security measures are in place to protect the ballots. McClure’s office emphasized the importance of fact-checking before sharing potentially misleading content.

The misinterpreted video led to unwarranted harassment and fueled false narratives about election integrity in Pennsylvania, which has previously been a target of misinformation campaigns during election cycles.

Allegations of Illegal Voting Assistance in Pennsylvania

CLAIM: Social media users claimed a video showed non-citizens bypassing lines to vote at a satellite election office in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

FACTS: The video does not depict illegal activity, according to election officials. The group shown was seeking assistance for elderly and disabled voters applying for mail-in ballots. Pennsylvania’s voter registration deadline had passed, meaning only those who were already registered could apply for mail-in ballots.

The county issued a statement explaining that these individuals were assisted by translators due to language barriers. Able-bodied members of the group joined the end of the line, while accommodations were made for elderly and disabled voters. Election officials reiterated that only U.S. citizens can legally register to vote in Pennsylvania.

Texas Incident Involving Alleged Verbal Harassment Misattributed to Democratic Party Employee

CLAIM: A woman in a video screaming at a child outside a rally in Houston, Texas, was falsely identified as a former employee of the Harris County Democratic Party.

FACTS: The Harris County Democratic Party clarified that the woman in the video was not and had never been employed by them. The wrongly identified woman, Jordan Bowen, expressed distress over the backlash she received after being misidentified. Bowen, who did attend the rally, looked distinctly different from the woman in the video. She and her legal representation are currently exploring legal action to counteract the defamatory misinformation that targeted her and her family.

Misleading Video of Alleged Ballot Destruction in Pennsylvania

CLAIM: A video from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, purporting to show ballots marked for Trump being destroyed, is circulating on social media.

FACTS: The Bucks County Board of Elections debunked this claim, stating that the materials in the video were not authentic and did not belong to the county’s election apparatus. U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed the video was a part of a coordinated disinformation effort by Russian actors aimed at destabilizing American electoral confidence.

This video is among several that have been linked to Russian influence groups known for disseminating similar falsehoods throughout election periods. Bucks County authorities have reported the incident to law enforcement, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the integrity of the vote.

Inaccurate Claims on Michigan Voter Rolls

CLAIM: Michigan has over 500,000 more registered voters than people eligible to vote, sparking accusations of potential fraud.

FACTS: Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson clarified that the state’s voter rolls include inactive voters who, under federal law, cannot be removed until they have missed voting in two consecutive federal election cycles. The number of active voters in Michigan aligns with the eligible population, while inactive records are periodically reviewed and removed as permitted by law.

This disparity is not unique to Michigan but reflects standard list-maintenance practices across states to ensure inactive voters are lawfully and systematically removed. Benson assured that the state conducts thorough voter roll maintenance to maintain accurate records.

Isolated Voting Machine Error in Georgia Misrepresented as Vote Flipping

CLAIM: A Dominion voting machine in Whitfield County, Georgia, allegedly flipped a vote.

FACTS: Whitfield County election officials confirmed that the issue involved a single voter who mistakenly marked the wrong selection. Georgia law allows voters to spoil their ballot if they detect an error before submission, which was done in this case. Election officials confirmed that there was no malfunction, and the isolated incident was promptly addressed.

Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Georgia secretary of state’s office, emphasized that similar reports were attributed to voter error rather than machine failure. No further issues with the machine were found, and officials stated that no additional action was necessary.