As the US election approached, social media was brimming with allegations of voter fraud. Once Donald Trump was declared the winner, the intensity of these claims appeared to wane significantly.

However, the narrative did not disappear entirely. Several right-wing influencers continued to claim that the election was ‘rigged’ and that widespread ‘cheating’ had occurred, often referencing incomplete or unverified vote totals. These assertions were accompanied by long-debunked theories reminiscent of the claims made during the 2020 election fallout.

Interestingly, some disillusioned Democratic supporters also contributed to the narrative by sharing their own unverified claims of fraud, albeit these gained substantially less traction compared to the rampant misinformation that followed the previous election loss.

During the BBC’s tracking of pre-election fraud claims, particularly a significant surge noticed on election day, many allegations revolving around ‘stolen’ ballots in key swing states emerged. A prime example occurred early on election day in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, where malfunctioning voting machines propagated fears of election tampering, despite corrections being made and voting hours extended to compensate for the inconvenience.

Rumors like these sparked hasty assertions online, with one post declaring, “The election steal is happening!” Others included unproven accusations about ballots in Delaware County being pre-marked for Vice President Kamala Harris.

In yet another swing state, Wisconsin, elections officials opted to re-run around 30,000 ballots as a precaution due to voting machine malfunctions. Despite the results indicating a decrease in support for Harris compared to Biden’s numbers four years earlier, the re-run sparked suspicion among some voters who claimed it was evidence of a larger conspiracy.

Even real incidents of voter disruptions, like fires at ballot drop boxes or bomb threats, were misrepresented by both pro-Trump and pro-Harris supporters as proof of widespread fraud. Nevertheless, investigations found no substantial evidence that these incidents affected election outcomes meaningfully.

As the day progressed, Democratic activists also added their own conspiracy theories to the mix. For instance, Florida supporter Pam Keith posted, “Is it possible that the machines were hacked to switch the tallies from Harris to Trump?” Her claims gained significant visibility on social media but were not endorsed by key Democratic figures, contrasting sharply with the fervent claims made during Trump’s 2020 campaign.

On election day, Trump himself stoked the flames of fraud allegations, asserting that there was “massive cheating” in Philadelphia. Yet, local law enforcement clarified that they were unaware of any such incidents, dismissing the claims as disinformation.

Following the election, posts related to voter fraud peaked at 3 PM EST but began to decline as results became clearer. Claims suggesting a significant drop in voter turnout compared to previous elections were spread widely, leading to further allegations of manipulation. Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza questioned the validity of voter figures based on early totals without acknowledging that these numbers are still being finalized, highlighting the inconsistent narratives on both sides.

While Trump’s final tallies indicated he had received approximately 73 million votes against Harris’s 69 million, the numbers prompting claims of ‘missing’ voters from both camps neglected the dynamics of voter behavior that can shift dramatically between elections. Voter turnout also appeared lower in 2024, offering further fodder for speculation.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, understanding the motivations and implications behind these election fraud claims remains crucial in deciphering the ongoing narrative surrounding US elections.