As the US election enters the countdown stage, false information and misleading statements have appeared in large numbers on social media, casting a shadow on the election process. Various allegations of election fraud spread rapidly from the Internet, and the crisis of voter trust has intensified. Groups and individuals supporting Trump are widely sharing content suspected of voting violations, and some posts have even received millions of views. In the chaotic information, foreign interference has also re-emerged, and the US government has accused Russia and other countries of undermining public confidence in the election through false videos and posts.

Faced with the spread of false information on the Internet, election officials must not only prepare for Election Day, but also need to dispel rumors from time to time to reassure worried voters. These misleading contents have had a profound impact on voters, especially in some swing states, where rumors have caused voters to doubt the validity of their ballots. Trump himself has repeatedly claimed on social platforms that there is large-scale fraud in swing states, further fueling the spread of conspiracy theories.

Misleading content is rampant: truth and rumors are intertwined

A BBC investigation found that hundreds of posts about election fraud went viral on social media, forums and chat groups. These posts implied that non-citizens could easily vote, spread false claims about voting machines, and discredited the counting process. For example, a video claimed that Haitians were voting illegally in Georgia, but after verification, the scene shown in the video did not match the facts. This kind of false information continues to cause public panic and misunderstanding.

Some conspiracy supporters posted their "voting experience" on social platforms, and even claimed that they voted across borders, but it turned out that these were all fictitious. The spread of extreme information not only undermines public trust, but also brings potential social security risks. As election day approaches, these accusations may further provoke dissatisfaction, unrest and conflict.

Echoes of 2020: Conspiracy theories are back

The proliferation of false information is reminiscent of the consequences of the 2020 presidential election. At that time, Trump claimed on social media that he was the winner of the election and called for a "stop stealing" campaign, which set off large-scale protests from his supporters, and eventually led to the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. On the eve of this election, conspiracy theories have re-emerged, especially in key states such as Georgia, where election officials are facing unprecedented pressure and death threats.

Today, doubts about the election results from the far right and conspiracy theorists are still spreading. Wendy Via, founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), warned that extremists are preparing for the "stolen election" narrative, believing that the election will be illegally manipulated and the potential threat is greater than in 2020. This distrust not only spreads to voters, but also affects the legitimacy of the election.

Grassroots reaction: Voters' fear of fraud intensifies

At a rally in the key state of Wisconsin, many Trump supporters made it clear that they believe only fraud can prevent Trump from winning. Many people are convinced that the election will be "rigged" and are full of uncertainty about the Republican victory. Although the Trump camp filed several fraud lawsuits after the 2020 election, all cases were dismissed. However, these experiences did not calm the doubts of supporters, but instead intensified their resistance.

Some experts pointed out that the US presidential election involves 50 states across the country, with a large number of voters, and individual ballot errors and operational omissions are difficult to avoid. However, individual cases have been infinitely magnified online and become "evidence" of widespread fraud, and this flood of information is undermining public trust in the election system.

Groups promote false information and expand their influence

Multiple organizations use social platforms and applications to collect "evidence" of election fraud. For example, the Texas-based organization True The Vote has long questioned the security of elections and collected suspected violations reported by supporters through the application "VoteAlert". This crowdsourcing method allows allegations of fraud to spread rapidly on the Internet. Although some allegations have been proven to be false, a large number of supporters are still convinced that the Democratic Party will cheat in the election.

In addition, the "Election Integrity Network" established by Trump's former lawyer actively mobilized volunteers to serve as polling station observers and encouraged reporting of voter violations. On the one hand, these actions are to ensure the integrity of voting, but on the other hand, they have invisibly exacerbated public anxiety. Many posts are posted anonymously, and the allegations are vague and difficult to verify. In response to these allegations, US media and observation agencies have repeatedly tried to contact these groups for responses.

How to restore trust in elections?

The US Department of Homeland Security warned that conspiracy theories about elections could trigger domestic extremists to take action. Observers predict that the spread of false information will not stop on election day, but may continue to affect public sentiment after the election. Given that the election may continue for several days, many conspiracy theorists interpret uncertainty as evidence of "fraud."

Luis Lozada, CEO of Democracy Works, pointed out that this election is taking place in an "ecosystem of distrust" and officials are working to spread accurate information to maintain public trust. He said that despite the prevalence of conspiracy theories, correct information is also being gradually spread. Lozada emphasized that election officials are doing everything they can to ensure voting security and protect the rights of every voter.

However, it is difficult to estimate whether this effort can eliminate voter distrust. The torrent of election fraud and false information has become a potential source of social unrest that may continue to affect the future political environment and voter behavior.