Claims in US Election Integrity

REPORTS - 15 day ago

Overview of Rejected Claims in US Election Integrity

As US voters head to the polls, various unverified claims about election integrity have emerged online. BBC Verify has reviewed several of these claims, debunking some based on official responses from authorities.

1. Trump's Claim of 'Massive Cheating' in Philadelphia 
Donald Trump claimed on social media that "massive cheating" was occurring in Philadelphia, indicating law enforcement involvement. However, local officials, including Philadelphia's Republican City Commissioner Seth Bluestein and Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner, denied the claim, stating there was no evidence to support allegations of widespread fraud.

2. Power Outages Linked to Election Interference  
Posts on social media suggested that power outages in Pennsylvania, particularly in Northampton County, were deliberate disruptions aimed at impacting voting. FirstEnergy spokesperson Todd Meyers clarified that while eight polling sites experienced outages, these were due to technical faults and were quickly resolved with backup power preventing voting disruptions.

3. Claims of Pre-Marked Ballots for Kamala Harris  
An image showing a mail-in ballot with a mark next to Kamala Harris’s name went viral, with accusations of ballot manipulation. However, Kentucky's election board responded that no complaints had been filed regarding pre-marked ballots, and any voter concerns could be addressed through clear instructions on ballot marking to ensure votes are counted accurately.

4. Concerns Over Absentee Ballots for Military Personnel  
A claim circulated that military personnel were not receiving absentee ballots in time to vote. The Federal Voting Assistance Program clarified that military voters could use a downloadable write-in absentee ballot (FWAB) if they encountered delays. The Pentagon did not comment on individual cases but confirmed measures in place to assist military voting.

5. Viral Video Showing Voting Machine Error  
A video from Kentucky showing a voting machine malfunction, allegedly changing votes, was widely shared online. Officials confirmed the machine had a temporary glitch that allowed it to incorrectly record selections, but it was taken offline until it could be inspected and was later confirmed to be functioning correctly.

This compilation of reports highlights how isolated issues can be misconstrued, fueling concerns about election integrity. Local officials continue to monitor and address such incidents to ensure transparency and voter confidence in the electoral process. 

For more details, check [BBC's full article](https://www.bbc.com).

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp81d9zymvyo?utm_campaign=***DO+NOT+USE+UNTIL+4TH+NOV***+US+election+links&utm_medium=bitly&utm_source=WhatsApp2024