With just under a year to go until the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, the political atmosphere is getting intense. This time, the election is not just about candidates but also about the narrative surrounding election integrity. Following the tumultuous 2020 election, concerns about election denialism continue to shape political strategies and voter perceptions.
Recent analyses indicate the emergence of not just traditional denialism from the political right but also a curious rise of skepticism from the left. Reports from NewsGuard highlight alarming trends: since September 1, 2023, nearly 800 social media accounts and video platforms have promoted misleading claims about the upcoming election. These claims have reached millions through platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and others, marking what some analysts are conscious of as the Left’s foray, albeit on a smaller scale, than what has been seen from the Right.
NewsGuard’s U.S. politics editor, Sam Howard, noted the shared narratives gaining traction—from unfounded allegations of vote-tampering to conspiracy theories implicatively tying billionaire Elon Musk to election integrity. Specifically, Musk's Starlink satellite internet service was baselessly accused of involvement during the 2024 election, leading to rampant speculation online. Howard pointed out, “The majority of left-wing accounts sharing these misleading claims are somewhat obscure,” unlike well-known right-wing figures who previously aided conspiracy theories.
Max Read from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue characterized this left-leaning denialism as unprecedented and significant. “It’s pretty insignificant compared to the right,” he explained, emphasizing the lack of outreach and infrastructure supporting these narratives on the Left. Post-election discourse from liberal spaces had not previously matched the saturation seen from the Right, which has cultivated extensive networks across various media platforms.
The Democratic Party's struggle to maintain credibility was also evident during the recent Pennsylvania Senate election. Democratic incumbent Bob Casey faced unexpected backlash from Republican Dave McCormick, who successfully unseated him the week of November 7, 2023. The election echoed previous Republican gains across battleground states like Montana and Ohio, raising concerns within the Democratic party about its grasp on power.
Election claims evaporate quickly under scrutiny as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reiterated there was no evidence of malicious interference impacting election integrity. “Variations in vote totals for different contests occur regularly and should not alone indicate fraud,” CISA asserted, attempting to quell rising speculation following the election.
Such rhetoric, which has pushed many on social media to contemplate recounts and election fraud, stems from comments surrounding voter turnout disparities compared to 2020. Many noted on platforms like X and TikTok about how millions of Democrats seemingly “sat this one out,” questioning the integrity of results without substantial evidence.
The Pennsylvania election’s bitter fighting was challenges the norm; Casey, who campaigned with high-profile Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris, was once considered the favorite. The race heated up with each opponent attempting to unearth what they deemed deception from the other. Casey accused McCormick of misrepresenting his home state ties, whereas McCormick argued Casey was merely another career politician with no record of service to boast.
Unsurprisingly, as with any election approaches, the ground is rife with speculation and misinformation. Leading influencers have amplified the misunderstandings, pulling ordinary citizens down conspiracy-laden rabbit holes. Jennifer Easterly, head of CISA, took to X to counter post-election claims, reinforcing the agency’s claim of no significant interference aimed at swaying election results.
The timeline of events around the recent election continues to evolve, resulting not only in candidates facing off but Americans increasingly engaging on social media spheres to voice discord. TikTok and X are witnessing significant shifts as moderation teams tackle the influx of election-related misinformation.
What will transpire as the election day nears? Political analysts and social media specialists brace for the possibility of narratives shifting more rapidly than before, once again leading to discord surrounding the election. These murmurs of doubt, regardless of the side, become narratives vying for attention rather than factual discourse surrounding candidates and their policies. The election is yet another test, not merely for the candidates but for the very fabric of U.S. democracy.
