“Unproven Allegations and Wild Accusations: Michigan Election Fraud and the Right-Wing Tale that Wouldn’t Die!
In 2020, the US election witnessed an intense debate about the legitimacy of mail-in votes. It points to grave concerns about fraud and lost votes. Yet, no proof of any widespread fraud has been established.
However, in the days leading up to the 2020 presidential election, unsubstantiated reports of potential election fraud circulated in Michigan and other closely contested states. A particularly salacious story of “right-wing” election fraud in Michigan made the rounds of social media and was even picked up by some news outlets. This tale of Michigan election fraud had all the ingredients of a high-stakes drama: Secret warehouses, mysterious strangers, and millions of fraudulent absentee ballots ready to be mailed out in record time. But did this story have any merit or was it little more than a baseless conspiracy theory?
According to reports, the Michigan election fraud involved a group of mysterious strangers who reportedly entered a warehouse in Lansing, Michigan, shortly before the election. The strangers were allegedly going to use voter registration data and computers to print and mail out millions of counterfeit ballots.
The reports of fraud in Michigan were spread on social media and on websites such as Twitter and Facebook. The story quickly gained traction and made headlines in local and national news outlets, including Fox News, Breitbart, and the Washington Examiner.
Unfortunately, all of the claims of Michigan election fraud turned out to be false. Despite the intense scrutiny, no evidence of fraudulent ballot printing or mailing was ever found.
The Michigan story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of believing unsubstantiated election fraud reports circulating on social media and other websites. While it is essential to report on verified information, it is also vital to be mindful of fake news stories. Unfortunately, the Michigan election fraud story is proof that not all stories are true or verifiable. It pays to be informed and to fact-check before circulating false information.