Be prepared for election misinformation and disinformation

Gird yourselves for the coming onslaught of misinformation and disinformation between now, the day before the 2020 election ends, and the final results come in. It is possible that if there are legal challenges to election results, the surge of false reports, lies, and misleading images will continue. 

An article in the Detroit Free Press, "Heads up, Michigan. Here's what disinformation experts are watching for on Election Day" by Ashley Nerbovig, 11/02/20,  covers the kinds of misinformation and disinformation you may be subjected to: 

"Given attempts like these [photos and videos of long lines at polling places, stories declaring unofficial winners, and claims of voter fraud] to mislead or deter voters ahead of the election and the possibility that no presidential race winner will be declared on Election Day, researchers and experts on disinformation advise Michiganders to be extra careful about where their information comes from in the next few weeks.

"Misinformation is false information shared by accident or without the knowledge it is false. Disinformation is when someone deliberately creates or shares information that is incorrect to inflict damage, such as telling people the wrong date of the election. Learning what this can look like can slow the spread of false information."

According to the article, researchers with the University of Washington's Election Integrity Project created a list of what to expect in coming weeks:

• Uncertainty, anxiety and the potential that red-to-blue or blue-to-red shifts will create opportunities to delegitimize the election results. 
• Efforts to deter voting with images and videos of long lines, COVID-19 dangers and protests.   
• Voting process problems that may be strategically framed and overemphasized to fit misleading narratives.  
• Claims of disenfranchisement will be highlighted and there may be false evidence and narratives of voter fraud.
• Social media companies that take action to address election-related misinformation will be accused of censorship. 
• Lost or found post-election ballots will be politicized.
• Allegations of foreign interference will be made.  

"To slow the spread of false information, avoid sharing early results from candidates or armchair data scientists. "

This all sounds like good advice to me. Stay calm and consult trusted sources of information. 

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See also, "Know your voting rights..." by Josh Peter, USA Today, 10/28/20