Fake News On Election Day: 6 Falsehoods To Watch For Today

With a wealth of "fake news" gaining traction online, Election Day deserves a quick fact check of misinformation.

Voting during the coronavirus pandemic opened up the possibility for more early voting, either by mail or through official ballot boxes in and around various U.S. communities.

But with social media, and even some candidates and office-holders, perpetuating conspiracy theories about the vote, a PSA of sorts is warranted.

The New York Times ran down a list of six things to look for on this Election Day.

• Ballots aren’t getting tossed in the trash.
• People aren’t voting more than once.
• Billionaire George Soros, whose company makes voting machines, hasn’t stole the election.
• You can’t vote by text, email or online, though overseas votes may be an exception.
• Minor issues with voting machines are normal.
• Immigration officials aren’t monitoring the polls

There is a trove of other misleading stories and rumors being circulated online, so vet your information carefully.

Voter intimidation is also a concern this election cycle. The American Civil Liberties Union outlined the legal definition of intimidation, noting it’s a federal crime to “intimidate, threaten, [or] coerce” anyone trying to vote.

Posing as an election worker, harassment of non-English speakers and aggressive questioning voters over their eligibility were among the examples of intimidation outlined by the ACLU.

Without citing evidence, President Trump spent much time on the campaign trail suggesting mail-in voting would lead to widespread vote fraud. The popular social networking platforms Facebook and Twitter flagged a claim made by the president on Monday that said mail-in votes in Pennsylvania would trigger "rampant" fraud and street violence.