WASHINGTON (AP) — Election Day was barely underway before unverified rumors of voting irregularities surfaced online.
One actual ballot-scanning breakdown, in Westchester County, New York, in particular gave rise to baseless theories about activities by Democrats or their allies to suppress Republican votes. But there was no indication that episode was engineered to disadvantage either party — "no shenanigans," said the Republican lawmaker seeking reelection there.
In Fulton County, Georgia, officials said some voters reported receiving false texts about polling place changes that were not sent by the county. Election watchdogs said it was unclear who sent them and whether the texts were an effort to deceive voters.
A look at some of the claims that made the rounds on social media before the midterm election polls closed Tuesday.
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CLAIM: Issues with voting machines in Westchester County are evidence of Democrats cheating.
THE FACTS: There is no credible evidence to suggest the ballot-scanning breakdown in the suburban county north of New York City was anything other than a technical problem.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, whose seat was on the line, did not see malfeasance at work. "There's no shenanigans," he told Fox News.
But posts were quick to portray the problem as evidence of nefarious activity.
"Nothing to see here? Just front load the early voting & then stop people voting on election day...
AP Wire Election Day was barely underway before misinformation about voting irregularities surfaced online WASHINGTON (AP) — Election Day was barely underway before unverified rumors of voting ir...