As the US election loomed on Tuesday, social media erupted with rampant allegations of voter fraud, yet the discourse surrounding these claims diminished significantly as Donald Trump emerged victorious.
Although these claims eventually tapered off, numerous right-wing influencers and organizations persistently circulated narratives about election “cheating” and a “rigged” system. They highlighted incomplete vote totals while clinging to debunked conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election outcomes.
Disappointed supporters of the Democratic Party likewise crafted their own unfounded theories about voter fraud, with several of these assertions gaining traction on social media platforms, including X, previously known as Twitter.
Despite some posts gaining viral status, their reach failed to match the overwhelming flood of content that characterized the aftermath of Trump’s 2020 election defeat.
Absent backing from Kamala Harris or other Democratic leaders, the likelihood of a significant movement resembling the “Stop the Steal” campaign of four years ago, which ignited a riot at the US Capitol, seems improbable.
The BBC observed a substantial surge in pre-election fraud claims that persisted throughout election day, continuing into the evening as results began to roll in.
These allegations included assertions that voting had been “stolen” in critical swing states, often utilizing exaggerated interpretations of genuine events to support these claims.
In Cambria County, Pennsylvania, a well-known Republican stronghold, voters faced issues with malfunctioning voting machines early in the day. Nevertheless, the problems were resolved, and extended voting hours were instituted in the affected precincts.
However, this incident quickly fueled allegations of malicious intent among some online commentators.
A post that surfaced at 08:45 local time on Tuesday boldly proclaimed: “The election steal is happening!”
Additional rumors circulated throughout the day, including one around 14:00, alleging that ballots in Delaware County, Pennsylvania had been pre-marked for Kamala Harris.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest city, election officials opted to re-run approximately 30,000 ballots as a precautionary measure after discovering that the doors on the back of voting machines had been inadvertently left open.
The subsequent vote count revealed a notable decrease in support for Harris compared to the 2020 performance of Joe Biden.
Similar to Trump supporters, Harris backers have pointed to isolated incidents, such as fires at ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon, and a series of fake bomb threats disrupting polling locations, as purported evidence of widespread voter fraud.
However, there is no substantive evidence suggesting that these incidents significantly impacted the vote tally or outcome.
Notably, several posts from Democratic activists questioning the election results achieved viral status, gaining millions of views across various social media platforms.
Florida-based Harris supporter Pam Keith shared a post asking, “Is it possible that the machines were hacked to switch the tallies from Harris to Trump?” Her message garnered over one million views on X, as per the platform’s analytics. The BBC has since sought her comments on the matter.
In contrast to Trump’s allegations of fraud in 2020, both Kamala Harris and senior Democratic officials did not back any claims of electoral cheating this year.
On election day, President-elect Trump himself entered the fray with fraud rumors, alleging systemic unfairness against him since the inception of his political career.
Shortly after 16:30, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!”
However, the president-elect provided no specific details, and the Philadelphia Police Department declared they were unaware of any related incidents.
Republican City Commissioner Seth Bluestein of Philadelphia took to X to refute the assertion, stating, “There is absolutely no truth to this allegation. It is yet another example of disinformation. Voting in Philadelphia has been safe and secure.”
Notably, Trump has refrained from repeating these fraud allegations since election day.
Attempts to reach several prominent accounts known for voicing election fraud claims prior to the election yielded no responses.
In collaboration with data firm NodeXL, the BBC monitored interactions involving Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and Elon Musk around election day.
Posts centered on allegations of vote fraud peaked at 15:00 EST on November 5, only to decline significantly as polling closed and results became available that evening.
In another instance, a widely circulated chart suggested a stark drop in vote totals in 2024 compared to 2020, with many interpreting the figures as “proof” of illegitimate practices.
Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, a supporter of Trump known for promoting voter fraud theories, tweeted the day after the election: “Kamala got 60 million votes in 2024. Does anyone really believe Biden got 80 million in 2020? Where did those 20 million Democratic voters go? The truth is, they never existed.”
However, the chart and corresponding figures were based on preliminary vote totals, which are still subject to change as final results are being tallied.
At present, Harris has secured over 69 million votes, in contrast to Trump’s total exceeding 73 million. Only a small fraction of ballots, fewer than two million nationwide, remain to be counted in several states, including Arizona and California, according to Reuters.
The BBC has reached out to Mr. D’Souza for comments.
These same figures are also fueling conspiracy theories among Harris supporters who are questioning the whereabouts of their “missing” voters, neglecting the reality that turnout rates and voting preferences fluctuate notably from election to election.
Partisans from both sides have pointed to discrepancies in vote tallies for Harris compared to other Democratic candidates vying for Senate seats.
It’s crucial to recognize that there is no mandate for US voters to align with a single party; “ticket-splitting,” or voting for candidates from differing parties across races, though less common, remains a notable aspect of American electoral behavior.
The University of Florida’s Election Lab turnout tracker indicates a lower voter turnout in 2024, showing 62.5% compared to just above 66% in 2020.
Additional reporting by Shayan Sardarizadeh and Merlyn Thomas
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Sarah Thompson on Voter Fraud Allegations in Recent Elections**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Thompson. We’ve seen a surge of allegations surrounding voter fraud, particularly from Donald Trump and his supporters. What do you make of this trend as we approach the 2024 elections?
**Dr. Thompson:** Thank you for having me. It’s not surprising to see these allegations resurface, especially considering Trump’s history of questioning election integrity. His rhetoric seems aimed at priming his base for an outcome that they might perceive as unfavorable. The social media landscape really amplifies these claims, even when there’s little evidence to support them.
**Interviewer:** That’s an interesting point. The reports suggest that right-wing influencers continue to push narratives about a “rigged” election system, while some left-leaning supporters have also made their claims. How do you see this affecting the political landscape?
**Dr. Thompson:** It’s creating a parallel narrative where both sides are expressing distrust in the electoral process. However, the scale and intensity of the Trump-aligned narratives are much stronger. The “Stop the Steal” campaign from 2020 has left a significant mark, and even though we see isolated incidents of claims from the left, they lack the same level of organization and leadership support. This could lead to further divisions within the electorate.
**Interviewer:** We’ve noticed that allegations, particularly regarding machine malfunctions and isolated incidents, have gone viral. What’s concerning about these claims?
**Dr. Thompson:** The concern lies in the potential for misinformation to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. While isolated issues, like the malfunctioning machines in Pennsylvania or allegations of pre-marked ballots, may seem significant, they often don’t reflect widespread issues. Spreading these assertions without substantive evidence can lead to further polarization and disillusionment with democracy itself.
**Interviewer:** In your opinion, how should political leaders and organizations respond to these unfounded allegations as we head closer to the 2024 elections?
**Dr. Thompson:** Leadership response is critical. Responsibly addressing misinformation is key to restoring confidence. Politicians should focus on transparency and communication. Additionally, social media platforms must take more accountability for the content shared, mitigating the spread of such misleading information. It’s essential to promote factual narratives to guide the public and counteract the erosion of trust in our electoral systems.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Thompson. Your insights shed light on the complexities surrounding voter fraud allegations as we move toward significant electoral events.
**Dr. Thompson:** Thank you for having me. It’s an important topic that needs continued discussion.