False and misleading claims about the voting process are spreading online as voters prepare for the 2026 midterms, with Election Day just days away, reports BritPanorama.
These posts often allege election rigging or voter fraud, yet closer examination typically exposes logical explanations behind the claims.
Here’s a closer look at the facts.
Holes in California ballots are not nefarious.
CLAIM: A punched hole in a Ventura County, California, ballot return envelope is proof of election rigging.
THE FACTS: This is false. According to election officials, the ballot return envelopes are designed with two holes to help workers confirm that the ballot has been removed and to assist voters who may have vision impairments.
A video circulating online shows the front of a return envelope from Ventura County with a punched hole on one side. In the video, a man states that if ballots are inserted a certain way, the bubble for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra is visible through the hole. He warns viewers to be cautious about how they place their ballots in California envelopes, alleging that “California is rigging elections.”
Simone Seydoux, spokesperson for the Office of the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters, clarified that the envelopes follow a design standard recommended by the California Secretary of State. Both holes can be seen from the back of the envelope. They are positioned adjacent to the signature area, acting as a guide for voters with vision impairments. One hole also serves a practical function, permitting election workers to ensure the envelope is empty post-ballot removal. This method also helps secure stacks of emptied envelopes for storage using zip ties.
“The holes are NOT positioned in order to see the vote on a particular contest,” Seydoux wrote. “The envelopes are ordered ahead of time and used from one election to another if possible.”
Ventura County’s 2026 general election ballot consists of three double-sided ballot cards, according to Seydoux. Voters are welcome to fold the ballot and place it in the envelope in any order.
The California Secretary of State’s office confirmed recently that there is nothing improper about such holes. “The small holes on some county ballot return envelopes are an accessibility feature to allow sight-impaired voters to orient themselves to where they are required to sign the envelope,” the office stated in an Instagram post. “If a voter is concerned their ballot choices might be visible through these holes, they can insert their ballots into the return envelope in various ways where all choices are hidden.”
New York City ballots are not missing candidates and may be more than one page.
CLAIM: A voter at a New York City polling site received two ballots, one of which lacked conservative candidates.
THE FACTS: This claim originated from a TikTok video where a user mentions that she voted at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York City. A sample ballot for that location shows it consists of two double-sided pages; one side of the second page details judicial races where no conservative candidates are present.
“They’re betting on your stupidity and your ignorance that you are not going to see that they’re giving you a ballot that is missing half the candidates,” the woman asserts in the video. “That’s actually some real foolery and real trickery right there. So honestly, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up.”
There are four judicial races listed, all featuring Democratic candidates and one from the Working Families Party. No Republican or Conservative Party candidates appear because none are running for the office.
“The only reason there would be no candidate on a party line in a contest on the ballot is because no individual was nominated by that party for that particular office,” Kathleen McGrath, a spokesperson for the New York State Board of Elections, wrote. “Of course, all contests offer voters a space for write-in candidates if they do not like the choices printed on the ballot.”
She added that New York City has employed multi-page ballots for many years.
The woman also suggests that she was not asked for ID before voting. In New York, voters provide either their Department of Motor Vehicles number or the last four digits of their social security number when registering. Alternatively, they may show another valid form of photo ID or a government document with their name and address. Voters may be prompted to show ID at the polls if their identity cannot be verified before Election Day, according to the state’s registration form.
McGrath explained that voters must verify their identity at the polls via signature if additional identification has already been confirmed. Their signature is reviewed by two bipartisan poll workers to ensure it matches their voter record.
“Unfortunately, much mis- and disinformation about elections and voting spreads quickly online,” she noted. “Worse yet, many social media posts are made solely to troll or garner clicks, with little regard for truth or impact. Sometimes, it is simply the individual not understanding the process which is conducted securely and transparently by bipartisan officials in New York State. Boards of elections remain trusted sources for accurate information.”
CLAIM: Allegations of vote flipping are attributed to user error.
THE FACTS: Election officials assert that instances of touchscreen voting machines flipping votes from Democrats to Republicans are typically the result of user error or screen miscalibration. They emphasize that the volume of complaints this year isn’t higher than in previous elections, despite significant attention on social media. Voters are encouraged to consult a poll worker for assistance if needed and review their selections before submitting their ballots.
“Almost all claims of vote flipping are understandable human error,” said David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. He mentioned that disinformation purveyors often exploit genuine concerns to foster mistrust in the voting process. “Is there one of us who hasn’t had a butt dial or mistyped something on our phones? It is not nefarious.”
Voting methodologies differ across the country, including the use of ballot marking devices that print a paper record or paper ballots filled out by hand.
The counties reporting recent vote-flipping incidents largely use ExpressVote ballot marking devices from Election Systems & Software. These machines allow voters to make selections on a touchscreen, with a paper record printed for review before votes are tabulated.
Katina Granger, senior manager of public relations for the Nebraska-based ES&S, stated that while the company collaborates closely with election officials and provides technical support, they are unaware of any widespread issues affecting voting machines this election cycle.
When voters encounter difficulties, they are advised to seek assistance from a poll worker. If a printed ballot does not represent their intended selections, “they should notify a poll worker rather than cast it so the jurisdiction can follow its procedures for replacing the ballot,” she advised.
CLAIM: Marking ballots by poll workers will disqualify them in the midterms.
THE FACTS: Voting rules differ by location, yet it is not unusual for poll workers to mark ballots as part of the procedure. Officials in several states note various reasons why a poll worker might annotate a ballot. Voters are encouraged to verify the rules in their districts and avoid making stray marks.
In many North Carolina counties, for instance, election workers may write “P” for provisional or “A” for absentee in designated boxes to identify ballots if they are not placed in envelopes as required. In Illinois, ballots are initialed before being given to voters.
“I always like to say, get your facts straight from the source, and the source is your local election official,” said Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization focused on election technology. “Not from your friends, friends of friends, or social media.”
Smith encouraged voters to access information via official websites or social media accounts of election officials and to ask poll workers about any annotations made on their ballots if concerns arise.
The spread of misinformation regarding the voting process remains a significant issue as the 2026 elections approach, highlighting the need for clear communication and transparency from electoral authorities.
