Viral claims of voting fraud have dominated online discussions as millions of Americans cast their ballots during the 2024 presidential election. Despite rigorous systems and checks, social media has amplified narratives about widespread election misconduct ranging from ballot manipulations to accusations of illegal voting. This surge of misinformation echoes earlier claims from the 2020 election, primarily propagated by former President Donald Trump and some of his followers. Yet, election officials are determined to counter these unfounded assertions with facts.
Timely investigations are underway to distinguish truth from myth. BBC Verify has stepped up to track and examine the most widely circulated claims asserting flaws within the voting system. Here’s a closer look at four of the most talked-about incidents, which officials and fact-checkers have swiftly addressed.
1) Misleading Images of Pre-Marked Ballots
One of the viral claims came from an image circulating on social media, depicting what appeared to be a mail-in ballot with a pre-existing mark beside Kamala Harris's name. This image sparked outrage online, with one post viewed over three million times asserting it indicated “weird ballot shenanigans.” Proponents of this claim suggested voting for anyone else would render the ballot void.
Seeking clarity on the issue, BBC Verify contacted the Kentucky Board of Elections. Their response was definitive: no evidence of pre-marked ballots anywhere. They reported having distributed around 130,000 ballots and emphasized, “as no one has presented a pre-marked ballot to election administrators or law enforcement, the claim...currently exists only within the vacuum of social media.” They confirmed if voters marked more than one selection but circled their choice, their ballots would still count.
2) Claims of Absent Military Ballots
Another highly circulated post on X stated, “the Pentagon reportedly failed to send absentee ballots to active military service members before the election,” garnering over 28 million views. The post referenced concerns highlighted in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin from three Republican members of Congress. The letter pointed out deficiencies affecting overseas military voting procedures.
Importantly, the letter did not accuse the Pentagon of failing to send ballots, clarifying the responsibility falls to election officials who coordinate with military personnel through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). Should ballots face delays, military personnel always have the option to use Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots (FWAB), which can be easily accessed online. The Department of Defense currently has around 3,000 Voting Assistance Officers to help service members navigate these voting procedures.
3) Allegations of Illegal VotersCasting Ballots
Claims of illegal voting seeped through social media like wildfire, particularly focusing on events occurring at election offices. One viral post insinuated “illegal voters” were seen bypassing waiting citizens to vote at the Allegheny County elections office. This narrative quickly spread, drawing allegations of foreign interference.
Responding to the uproar, officials from Allegheny County clarified the individuals depicted were there to apply for mail-in ballots, underscoring the illegality of non-citizens voting. They reassured the public: “Only U.S. citizens can register to vote,” and emphasized studies showing significant evidence of illegal voting is extremely rare.
4) Claims of Malfunctioning Voting Machines
Perhaps one of the most sensational claims originated from Kentucky, where videos showed voters struggling to select Donald Trump's name on electronic voting machines, which supposedly caused votes to default to Kamala Harris instead. The clip received nearly seven million views, raising soaring accusations of election interference.
Election officials acknowledged the video demonstrated a genuine malfunction, yet they stressed it was isolated. The problem stemmed from the voter hitting inaccurately between the boxes for selection. The county clerk assured, “after trying for several minutes to duplicate the scenario, no issues arose,” asserting the machine was temporarily taken out of service for inspection. By later addressing the issue, they aimed to restore confidence, noting these instances are monitored and rectified rapidly during elections.
Experts assert isolated incidents such as these shouldn’t be misconstrued as systemic issues across the board. Joseph Greaney, from Ballotpedia, explained, "in elections of this scale, there are always going to be some problems." He emphasized the importance of putting such occurrences in perspective, warning against extrapolations of isolated incidents as indications of widespread failures.
The spread of misinformation has the potential to undermine public confidence. Historically, efforts to address voting integrity issues are often mired under accusations, promoting doubts about the election process.
While inaccuracies continue to ebb and flow on various platforms, the proactive measures undertaken by election watchdogs and officials reflect their steadfast commitment to ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy elections. Maintaining the integrity of the election process is not just about verifying votes; it's about fostering trust within the democratic system.
With the November general election rapidly approaching, voters must hold on to reliable information and skepticism against claims lacking evidence. The balance between securing the electoral process and upholding its integrity hinges upon the public's ability to navigate these waters critically. Understanding the facts behind the noise is key to upholding the democratic process as Americans head to the polls.
