Midterm Election Misinformation/Intimidation
We ran the numbers: There are 3,986 news articles covering this topic.
32% (1,268) are left-leaning, 42% (1,688) are centrist, and 26% (1,030) are right-leaning.
Ahead of the November midterm elections, studies and election officials warn that disinformation campaigns and intimidation at the polls could prevent millions of voters from exercising their right to vote. Left-leaning articles highlight that Americans do not think they will fall for misinformation but worry that others might, while right-leaning articles highlight that states have taken steps to stop poll-site intimidation on election day.
USA Today published a centrist article describing a nationwide phenomenon of elections-related disinformation campaigns that could bar millions of voters of color from voting in the upcoming midterm elections. Tactics such as voter intimidation, intentionally false information about voting locations and hours, and creating confusion have all been used to prevent citizens, particularly voters of color, from voting.
A left-leaning article by The Washington Post highlighted that while the majority of Americans are concerned that disinformation and misinformation will impact how some individuals will vote, only a fraction of them believe that it will affect them personally, according to a recent poll by the Knight Foundation and Ipsos. Across the political aisle, Americans believe that social media companies should do more to prevent the spread of dis- and misinformation online.
A right-leaning article by Fox News highlighted that across the nation, election officials are working to prevent voter intimidation at the polls despite continual reassurance that election results are secure and fair. It reported that a number of states have taken steps to prevent intimidators from coming within a distance of ballot box drop-off locations and created infrastructure to report potential violations and ensure safety of poll workers.