As the 2024 US election nears, disinformation targeting the electoral process is on the rise, particularly against Democrats, with claims of election fraud and illegal voting gaining traction. High-profile figures, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump, have shared misleading assertions, fueling public distrust. A viral video falsely claims illegal voting, while investigations reveal it to be fabricated. Media outlets also amplify these narratives, despite a lack of credible evidence. Studies indicate that non-citizen voting is exceedingly rare, further undermining these claims.
The Landscape of Disinformation in the 2024 US Election
As the 2024 US election approaches, a wave of disinformation has taken center stage, aiming to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process. Many of these narratives disproportionately target Democrats, accusing them of orchestrating election manipulation.
Elon Musk recently posted on his platform X, claiming, “They are importing voters.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump shared on his social network ‘Truth Social’: “We caught them in the GREAT FRAUD in Pennsylvania.” A viral video further alleges that “voting machines in Kentucky REFUSE to select Donald Trump’s name and instead automatically select Kamala Harris.”
These instances exemplify the spread of false claims designed to erode public confidence in the electoral system. Since September 1, NewsGuard has flagged nearly 70 misleading narratives surrounding the US election.
According to The New York Times, researchers and officials have documented that the current influx of half-truths, deceptions, and fabrications far exceeds anything previously witnessed in election history.
Fact-Checking Disinformation: Insights from Carla Reveland
Controversial Video and its Impact
Among the most pervasive claims is the assertion that non-citizens are voting illegally, thus skewing election results. Some narratives suggest that “illegal immigrants” are being transported to crucial swing states to secure a Democratic victory, while others allege that supposed Canadians are crossing the border to vote for Trump.
A particularly controversial 20-second video has gone viral, reportedly showing two Haitians claiming to have gained US citizenship within just six months of arriving. One individual asserts he voted multiple times for Kamala Harris using various Georgia driver’s licenses.
In the video, he states, “Yesterday we voted in Gwinnett County and today we are voting in Fulton County,” encouraging fellow Haitians to come to the U.S. However, investigations by BBC Verify have revealed this video to be fabricated. The addresses on the driver’s licenses are not valid residential addresses, and the passport photo is a stock image.
US intelligence agencies, alongside Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have dismissed the video’s authenticity. Raffensperger remarked, “This is false and an example of targeted disinformation that we have experienced in this election,” implying potential foreign interference aimed at inciting “discord and chaos” ahead of the vote.
Research from Clemson University aligns with this theory, revealing elements of a Russian disinformation campaign, linked to the Kremlin-affiliated network Storm-1516. Although the Russian embassy in the US has denied these assertions, stating they are “unfounded.”
Republican Narratives and Media Influence
The false narrative surrounding non-citizen voting is not just an external issue. Domestic media outlets have played a significant role in perpetuating these claims. Between September and October, ‘Media Matters’ reported that ‘Fox News’, ‘Fox Business’, and ‘Newsmax’ propagated at least 141 false claims about non-citizen voting. Additionally, over 200 Republican Congress members have shared similar content on X this year, according to ‘Advance Democracy’.
Trump has been a long-time promoter of this narrative, frequently using social media to assert things like, “Kamala’s illegal immigrants. This is the biggest crime story of our time.” During a televised debate in September, he remarked, “Our elections are bad, and many of these illegal immigrants coming here are trying to get them (the Democrats) to vote.”
There is no credible evidence supporting claims that Democrats engage in such illicit practices. Non-citizens are prohibited from voting in US presidential elections, and violations can lead to severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
Investigating Non-Citizen Voting
A comprehensive study by the Brennan Center for Justice into non-citizen voting during the 2016 presidential election uncovered only 30 suspected cases out of 23.5 million legal votes cast, illustrating a minuscule occurrence rate of just 0.0001 percent.
In Georgia, the state identified a mere 20 non-citizens among 8.2 million registered voters. A review by The Washington Post of the Heritage Foundation’s fraud database found only 85 instances of alleged non-citizen voting between 2002 and 2023.
The Foundation of Election Legitimacy Questions
“The narrative that non-citizens are voting