In the lead-up to the US election, a surge of false claims, misleading information, and outright fabrications regarding voting and election fraud is dominating online discussions. Numerous incidents alleging voting irregularities are being shared by individuals, as well as by groups with affiliations to both independent and Republican organizations, with some contributions from Democrats as well.

The flood of allegations is creating significant challenges for election officials who must counteract misinformation while ensuring that voters feel confident about the electoral process as they prepare for Election Day. Many of these posts echo former President Trump’s unfounded assertions that he was cheated out of the 2020 election and express fears that similar fraud will occur on November 5.

During a recent presidential debate, Trump stated he would accept the results of the 2024 election if it were “fair and legal.” A CNN/SSRS poll indicates that 70% of Americans believe he will refuse to accept a loss. This week, Trump claimed widespread electoral fraud in Pennsylvania through his Truth Social platform, urging followers to report any cheating to law enforcement.

His allegations arose after officials in three counties announced investigations into voter registration applications suspected of fraud. However, Pennsylvania’s top election official cautioned against misinformation and encouraged voters to be aware of “half-truths” circulating online, highlighting the effectiveness of existing safeguards in the registration process.

Numerous false claims have been observed on social media platforms. For instance, one misleading video suggested non-citizens were voting in Georgia, which was later debunked as a fabrication linked to Russian operatives. Another post claimed a Canadian individual voted illegally in the US, but this too was proven false. In Pennsylvania, a video falsely depicted a postal worker delivering ballots as suspicious activity; it has since been viewed over five million times.

Experts express concern that this wave of misinformation could diminish public trust in electoral outcomes and potentially incite violence or threats ahead of Election Day. Following the 2020 election, similar false allegations led to significant unrest and threats against election officials across battleground states.

As misinformation campaigns ramp up prior to this election, some far-right activists express expectations of widespread deceit at polling places. Historical patterns suggest incidents of voter fraud are infrequent but are now being exaggerated online alongside fabricated narratives.

While authorities emphasize their investigations showcase robust electoral safeguards, conspiracy theorists interpret these incidents as validation for their beliefs about coordinated fraud efforts by Democrats. The impact on public trust in democracy poses serious challenges for maintaining confidence in electoral processes moving forward.