The period leading to Election Day witnessed a surge in posts on social media platforms like X promoting claims of voter fraud, with examples like technical issues with voting machines, power outages, and spelling errors on ballots being used as supposed evidence for a brewing conspiracy. Notably, former President Donald Trump's post on Truth Social on Election Day alleging "massive cheating" in Pennsylvania was refuted by officials as having no factual basis.
Following Trump's apparent victory, the frequency of posts questioning the election's integrity notably dwindled, as researchers observed a significant decrease in mentions of voting machines in Pennsylvania and Michigan across social media platforms. For example, the Elon Musk-led "Election Integrity Community" experienced a sharp decline in posts after Trump's win in Pennsylvania was confirmed, essentially halting the focus on voter fraud claims. Additionally, discussions around glitches and problems at polling sites, like the temporary voting machine error in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, were amplified on social media, contributing to baseless suggestions of intentional malpractice.
While election rumors have subsided, false claims persist surrounding races that are yet to be called, such as in Arizona, where doubts are cast on Democratic candidate Ruben Gallego's lead over Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake. Despite ongoing vote counting, both the left and right are distorting turnout numbers to question election results, with some suggesting "missing votes" or stolen elections. However, researchers note that the volume of posts disputing Vice President Kamala Harris's loss pales in comparison to the "Stop the Steal" movements that followed Trump's defeat in 2020. Harris emphasized the importance of accepting election results in her concession speech, maintaining a fundamental principle of American democracy.