MISINFORMATION AS DELIBERATE MANIPULATION IN THE 2024 ELECTION

Some conservatives are projecting there will be election interference in battleground states to thwart the re-election  of Republican candidate Donald Trump.  Trump supporters are spreading  this claim at events and online –_ a  gas lighting pre-cursor that could lead to another contested outcome. While some have raised valid concerns about election security like the handling of mail-in ballots, foreign interference and the integrity of voting machines – others are falsely claiming the last election was won by illegal immigrants who slipped in at the Border voting.

The Constitution bans non-citizens from voting and eligibility is verified.  Amplification of this misinformation narrative can lead to more anxiety and confusion. Republicans peddled a  similar idea   before the 2020 election that was the impetus for the “Stop the Steal” March on January 6.  Voters should know that there  is not a speck of proof for  the lies being spread. 

How the legal selection of the leader of the United States actually works is that to ensure checks and balances in the election process it is the electoral college that determines who wins the presidency  -- not just the popular vote.  In 2000 and in 2016 candidates that had the most popular votes still lost.

The candidate who wins the majority of electoral college votes (at least 270 out of 538) becomes President.

So be warned that the misinformation and disinformation is prevalent and designed in part to cause public distrust in a tested process that has  succeeded more than it has failed.