Two days prior to Halloween, a postal worker in Pennsylvania was seen delivering a box of mail-in ballots to the Northampton County Courthouse. A man, recording on his phone, questioned the postal worker and followed him into the building. The individual capturing the video was informed that the person carrying the box was indeed a postal worker. Despite this, the individual expressed suspicion, commenting on the seemingly large number of ballots. The video, focusing on the postal worker’s face, garnered nearly six million views by November 2.
Local officials in Pennsylvania confirmed that the individual in the video was an acting postmaster fulfilling his duties. After the video circulated online, he reportedly received threats. Incidents like these, focused on unfounded voter fraud allegations, are becoming prevalent ahead of Election Day. In 2020, such online behavior contributed to harassment and threats, and eventually played a part in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Videos similar to this one are surfacing in a specialized community on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, fueling speculation that can lead to threats and harassment.
Renée DiResta, an associate research professor at Georgetown University and an expert on election disinformation, highlighted the distinction between sharing concerns about the electoral process and making baseless accusations against individuals, implying treason. According to DiResta, while it is normal in a democracy to discuss concerns about the elections, responsible engagement is crucial.
In 2020, many social media platforms took steps to provide context and promote information from credible sources. However, following pressure from Republican groups, these efforts have decreased. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, transforming it into X, the platform has experienced shifts towards minimal moderation policies and a more conservative tilt. Most notably, the platform now hosts communities where speculative discourse on elections flourishes. Musk himself has become a major supporter of Donald Trump’s campaign, increasingly sharing election-related misinformation. A super PAC founded by Musk has developed a dedicated space on X for sharing and discussing potential election fraud, amassing over 60,000 users.
DiResta mentioned that many individuals engaging with posts on X are already convinced the election is fraudulent, motivated by assertions from political figures they trust. This community often weaves individual accounts into a larger narrative, suggesting widespread voter fraud despite numerous legal inquiries and audits finding no significant irregularities in 2020.
Protect Democracy, a legal nonprofit, has pursued defamation lawsuits against election deniers on behalf of individuals falsely accused of illegal actions. Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s former attorney, was found liable for defamation against Georgia election workers and ordered to pay $148 million in damages. Shaye Moss, one of the workers, commented on the profound impact of being falsely accused. Jane Bentrott from Protect Democracy noted the significant ramifications faced by those perpetuating false claims.
Despite such high-profile legal actions, the broader media environment remains unchanged, according to DiResta. She described a “pipeline” where unverified allegations from smaller accounts are amplified by those with large followings, influencing public perception and events such as the January 6 Capitol riot.
The person who filmed the postal worker later stated online that the video would be removed if it was confirmed the subject was simply performing his duties. However, as of November 2, the video remains available. DiResta expressed confidence that American election officials are better equipped for the upcoming election, although she emphasized that narratives are still heavily influenced by prominent political figures and leaders.
