FACT FOCUS: Misinformation spreads quickly about Election Day voting

Associated Press · Melissa Goldin, Calvin Woodward · 2026-11-04 02:15 UTC

Election Day was barely underway before misinformation about voting irregularities surfaced online. One actual ballot-counting malfunction Tuesday, in a suburban county north of New York City, gave rise to theories about activities by Democrats or their allies to rig the vote. But there was no indication that episode in Westchester County was engineered to disadvantage either party. Election officials reported voting problems in parts of the United States but there were no verified examples of malfeasance in the hours before polls closed across the country.

FACT FOCUS: False accusations and unverified claims quickly spread about Election Day voting

WASHINGTON (AP) — Election Day was barely underway before unverified rumors of voting irregularities surfaced online.

One actual ballot-scanning malfunction, in Westchester County, New York, in particular gave rise to baseless theories about activities by Democrats or their allies to suppress Republican votes. While there was no indication that episode was engineered to disadvantage either party — “no shenanigans,” said the Republican congressman seeking reelection — the issue delayed the counting of votes until at least Wednesday.

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