Electoral Information Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to help you identify, understand, and counter electoral misinformation. It provides practical resources, such as tools for fact-checking, case studies on real-world misinformation campaigns, and strategies for promoting credible information. By empowering you with knowledge and actionable steps, this toolkit supports a more informed public, helping to protect the integrity of elections and strengthen democracy for everyone.

Electoral misinformation refers to false or misleading information about voting processes, election security, or election outcomes, intentionally or unintentionally spread to influence public perceptions and voter behavior. This type of misinformation can manifest in various forms, such as rumors about voting procedures, baseless claims of voter fraud, or exaggerated narratives about election interference. Social media platforms and partisan outlets often amplify these messages, allowing them to reach large audiences quickly.

The impact of electoral misinformation is profound. By distorting facts and spreading confusion, it can erode trust in democratic institutions, discourage voter turnout, and create divisions within communities. Misinformation disproportionately affects marginalized groups, making it harder for them to access accurate information and participate fully in the democratic process. Left unchecked, these falsehoods can lead to harmful policies and undermine the legitimacy of election results.

What is Mis/Dis-Information?

Electoral Misinformation

Electoral misinformation refers to false or misleading information about elections that is spread unintentionally. This type of information is not shared with the intent to deceive but can still have serious consequences, such as causing confusion about voting procedures or deterring people from participating in the election (Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life, n.d.).

Electoral Disinformation

Electoral disinformation is deliberately false information about elections that is shared with the intent to deceive or manipulate. This can include strategically crafted false narratives designed to influence voter behavior, reduce voter turnout, or undermine trust in the electoral process (University of Washington Center for an Informed Public, n.d.).

Key Topics

 

This section provides resources on three main topics: the spread of electoral misinformation, the role of social media in amplifying divisive content, and the responsibility of journalism in combating false narratives. You’ll find reports and guides, such as the Media Manipulation Casebook and Stanford Journalism Playbook, that dive into how misinformation operates and what roles social media platforms and journalists play in either countering or inadvertently amplifying it.

Reports & Policy

 

In this section, there are resources focused on recent U.S.-centric reports and policy analyses. These include the Election 2024 Misinformation Dashboard by the News Literacy Project, the Brennan Center’s report on disinformation threats for 2024, and CISA’s Rumor vs. Reality guide. Each resource provides insights on the current threats to election integrity, with specific recommendations for countering misinformation through policy and practical interventions.

Tracking Misinformation: Election 2024

The News Literacy Project’s dashboard provides insights on emerging misinformation trends for the 2024 election, helping voters recognize and counter misleading claims.

Heightened Disinformation Risks in the 2024 Election

The Brennan Center identifies new disinformation threats for 2024, such as AI-driven tactics and voter suppression, with recommendations for officials and platforms.

Election Security Myths and Facts

CISA’s “Rumor vs. Reality” tackles election security myths, offering fact-based responses to strengthen public trust in the election process.

Recommended Practices

Prebunking and Debunking Techniques

A Practical Guide to Prebunking Misinformation

University of Cambridge’s proactive methods for preventing misinformation before it spreads.

Voter Education

Recognizing "Fake News"

PBS LearningMedia’s collection teaches users how to spot fake news through videos and activities that build critical skills for evaluating sources and identifying misinformation.

Resources for Further Exploration

Academic Publications

Critical Disinformation Syllabus

This syllabus offers essential readings on disinformation, exploring its impact on identity, media literacy, and public discourse.

Podcasts

Does Not Compute

CITAP’s podcast series, discussing democracy, disinformation, and the role of technology in elections.

Guides

Tackling Disinformation

DW Akademie’s practical guide for media professionals and civil society.

Fact-Checking Websites

Snopes

Known as one of the original fact-checking sites, Snopes investigates a wide range of claims, from viral rumors to political statements. It offers clear explanations and sources to help users understand what’s true, false, or somewhere in between.

FactCheck.org

A nonpartisan, nonprofit project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, FactCheck.org monitors the factual accuracy of statements made by major U.S. political figures. It provides thorough analysis and corrections on political claims, especially during election cycles.

PolitiFact

Known for its Truth-O-Meter, PolitiFact rates the accuracy of political claims and news stories on a scale from “True” to “Pants on Fire.” Its straightforward approach makes it easy for users to gauge the reliability of statements made by public officials.