As millions vote in the US election, a wave of online claims questioning election integrity has emerged. Election officials are quickly addressing and clarifying false allegations, including some from former President Donald Trump.
Trump Alleges “Massive Cheating” in Philadelphia
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “law enforcement [is] coming” to Philadelphia due to alleged “massive cheating,” without providing evidence or specific details. The Philadelphia Police Department told BBC Verify they were unaware of any incidents, and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner dismissed the claim as baseless. Philadelphia’s Republican City Commissioner, Seth Bluestein, also refuted it, calling it “another example of disinformation.”
Power Outages Linked to Voting Claims in Pennsylvania
Social media posts claimed that power outages in Pennsylvania were linked to election interference, particularly in Northampton County. Todd Meyers of FirstEnergy confirmed that while eight polling locations experienced brief outages due to an electrical fault, all sites had power restored within ten minutes, and backup systems ensured voting was unaffected.
Viral Image Claims Pre-marked Ballots
An image circulating on social media shows a mail-in ballot allegedly pre-marked for Kamala Harris. BBC Verify spoke with the Kentucky Board of Elections, which rejected the claim, explaining that no pre-marked ballots had been reported and that the incident exists only on social media without evidence.
Absentee Ballots for Military Members Questioned
A viral post claimed the Pentagon failed to send absentee ballots to active military members, citing a letter from Republican lawmakers. The letter expressed concerns over voting procedures but did not accuse the Pentagon directly. Overseas voting is managed through the Federal Voting Assistance Program, not the Pentagon, and backup ballots are available online.
Kentucky Voting Machine Malfunction
A video showing a voting machine in Laurel County, Kentucky, seemingly switching a vote from Trump to Kamala Harris went viral. Officials confirmed the machine malfunctioned briefly, affecting the area between the boxes, but the issue was quickly addressed. The machine was removed for inspection and later confirmed to be functioning correctly. Voting expert Joseph Greaney noted that isolated incidents can occur but are typically resolved swiftly.
BBC Verify continues to monitor and investigate widely shared claims to provide accurate information amid the election.
