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Before sharing an election claim, trace it to its original source and check it with the election office responsible for the place it concerns. For U.S. voting dates, hours, registration, polling locations, ballot rules, and results, use the relevant state or local election authority: election procedures vary by jurisdiction, and a rule that is accurate in one place may not apply in another.
How can you tell whether election information is true?
Use a short verification routine: find the original source, check the claim with the responsible election office, and look for credible corroboration. If you cannot confirm it, do not share it as fact. A screenshot or repost may omit the original source or date, and an official-looking post is not proof that it came from an election office.
- Trace the claim to its original source. Look for the first page, statement, or account that published it, rather than relying on a screenshot, forwarded message, or clipped video. Check who made the claim and when. The CISA election disinformation toolkit cautions that people may encounter shared links or emails without knowing their true source.
- Check with the election authority responsible for that place. For practical voting details and claims about election administration, consult the official website or verified account of the state or local election office, or contact the office directly. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s voter resources link to state and territory election websites.
- Seek credible corroboration. Compare the claim with reputable reporting and other reliable sources. The FBI and CISA public service announcement advises readers to evaluate sources critically and seek verified information from election officials and reputable news media.
- Pause when a post tries to provoke you. Sensational wording or language designed to make you angry or deepen division is a reason to inspect the claim carefully, not proof that it is false. CISA and the FBI recommend critical evaluation rather than reacting to the presentation alone.
- Verify media that appears official, too. Text, images, audio, and video can imitate election officials. The EAC’s guidance on AI and election administration notes that AI-generated information can sound plausible while being inaccurate. Confirm consequential details—especially voting dates, hours, and locations—through official channels.
Where should you verify voting information?
Start with the election office that administers voting in the jurisdiction named in the claim. Use its official website or verified account, or contact the office if the answer is unclear. The EAC’s state and territory election resources can help you find the appropriate official site. Do not assume that a post about another state, county, or election applies where you vote.
Check that the source is authoritative for the specific information, that the claim is current and presented in its original context, and that credible independent sources support it. For a voting procedure, jurisdictional relevance is essential: even a genuine rule may apply only to a different place or election.
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What do misinformation and disinformation mean?
CISA distinguishes these terms by accuracy and intent:
- Misinformation is false information shared without intent to cause harm.
- Disinformation is false information deliberately created to mislead, harm, or manipulate.
- Malinformation is fact used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.
Those definitions do not make a poster’s intent easy to determine. A post alone may not reveal why someone shared it. You can assess whether its claim is accurate and in context without deciding what the person intended.
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What should you do with a questionable election post?
- If it is confirmed: Share it only with its source and context intact, particularly when it concerns a specific jurisdiction or date.
- If credible confirmation is missing: Do not pass it on as fact. The EAC advises checking with a local elections official before sharing information that may be false or misleading.
- If it concerns your jurisdiction: Contact the state or local election office. The EAC Office of Inspector General directs concerns about misinformation, disinformation, voter intimidation, or voter fraud to those election offices; its OIG is not the general reporting destination for voter issues. See its reporting guidance.
- If you suspect a crime: That is a separate matter from an uncertain post. The FBI and CISA say potential election crimes—including intentional disinformation about the manner, time, or place of voting—may be reported to a local FBI field office.
- If you want to flag content online: Use the platform’s reporting tools where available for election-related disinformation.
A quick check before you share
- Can you find the original source and publication date?
- Is that source responsible for the jurisdiction and claim in question?
- Does the relevant election office confirm the voting detail?
- Do reputable, independent sources corroborate it?
- Could a missing context, edited clip, or AI-generated media be changing how it appears?
- If you still cannot verify it, are you willing to leave it unshared?
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