Did 20 Million Votes Disappear in the 2024 Election? Fact-Check Reveals the Truth

Fact-Check: Did 20 Million Democratic Votes ‘Disappear’ in the 2024 US Election?

Claims circulating on social media allege that 20 million Democratic votes went missing during the 2024 US presidential election, sparking accusations of election fraud. However, these claims are baseless and lack credible evidence.

Background of the Allegations

After Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, unsubstantiated claims of election fraud were widespread. Now, following Vice President Kamala Harris's loss in 2024, some of her supporters are making similar allegations. A notable post by Wayne Madsen, a writer known for promoting conspiracy theories, suggested that the election was hacked, stating, “20 million Democratic votes don’t disappear on their own.” Other posts on Threads also called for an investigation into supposed election discrepancies.

Meta’s Efforts to Combat Misinformation

Facebook, Instagram, and Threads posts alleging voter fraud have been flagged as part of Meta’s ongoing campaign to combat misinformation. However, experts confirm that these claims are inaccurate and misleading.

No Evidence of Fraud or Missing Votes

Director Jen Easterly of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed there were no reports of compromised election security. “Our election infrastructure has never been more secure,” Easterly stated, emphasizing that there was no evidence of malicious activity impacting the election.

Ishan Mehta, director at Common Cause, a public advocacy group, reiterated that the 2024 election was safe and “pretty smooth,” backed by thousands of volunteers who monitored polling sites across all 50 states. “There is no evidence that any votes disappeared or of any fraudulent activity during the 2024 election,” Mehta said.

Understanding Voter Turnout Fluctuations

Experts explain that fluctuations in voter turnout between elections are common. Paul Gronke, a political science professor at Reed College, noted that factors such as candidate appeal and campaign efforts influence turnout. “If 20 million fewer votes were cast for the Democratic candidate in 2024 than in 2020, it indicates a decision by voters not to cast a ballot or to abstain from voting for the presidential candidate,” Gronke said.

David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, highlighted that while the final turnout will be known after state certifications, preliminary data suggests high participation rates. “We’re on track to have the second highest turnout in votes in US history,” Becker added.

Final Verdict

Posts on Threads claiming that 20 million Democratic votes “disappeared” are unfounded. Election experts and CISA have confirmed that there was no evidence of disappearing votes or widespread fraud in the 2024 presidential election. While minor technical glitches were reported, none were significant enough to suggest fraud. Voter turnout naturally varies from one election to another.

Our rating: These claims are Pants on Fire!
Reference from Al Jazeera