Twitter owner Elon Musk's right-wing fans alleged fraud in a poll asking users whether he should step down as the head of the social network.
Musk, who had drawn growing backlash for cozying up to the far-right while suspending journalists and accounts that publish public information, posted the poll shortly after coming under fire from all sides for a new Twitter policy that banned users from linking to other social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Mastodon. Musk abruptly changed the policy in response to criticism, limiting the rule only to accounts whose primary purpose is to promote competitors.
"Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes," he tweeted. "My apologies. Won't happen again."
He followed up with a poll asking users whether he should let someone else run the platform. Musk has previously polled users on whether to reinstate suspended accounts and whether to reinstate former President Donald Trump.
"Should I step down as head of Twitter?" he wrote. "I will abide by the results of this poll."
More than 57% of the 17.5 million users who participated in the poll voted "yes," with 42.5% voting "no."
Musk's fans on the right quickly alleged that fraud may be to blame, as has become a common right-wing refrain anytime a vote does not go their way.
"Are you sure bots aren't voting here???" questioned conservative pundit Michele Tafoya.
"Proof there's still way too many liberal bots," wrote right-wing pundit Curtis Houck.
"NO. STOP THE...
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