Fact Check: "2020 Election Was Rigged"
What We Know
The claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged has been widely circulated, particularly by supporters of former President Donald Trump. However, extensive research and analysis have consistently shown that there is no credible evidence to support claims of widespread voter fraud or election rigging. For instance, a study published in the journal Political Psychology highlights that partisan motivated reasoning significantly influenced perceptions of election integrity, with Trump supporters expressing doubts about the election's legitimacy after the results were announced, while Biden supporters affirmed the election's integrity (Vail et al., 2022).
Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of statistical claims made by Trump and his allies concluded that none of the prominent allegations of voter fraud were convincing. Claims regarding voting machines switching votes and suspicious turnout patterns were found to be either inaccurate or not indicative of fraud (Eggers et al., 2021). Additionally, a survey conducted by the Electoral Integrity Project at Harvard University indicated that experts in the field of elections largely viewed the 2020 election as legitimate and well-administered (Harvard University, 2020).
Analysis
The assertion that the 2020 election was rigged is primarily based on anecdotal evidence and claims that have been systematically debunked. For example, the statistical claims regarding Dominion voting machines and anomalous voting patterns were rigorously analyzed and found to lack substantive evidence. The authors of the study noted that while many Americans believed in the existence of fraud, the statistical anomalies cited were either misinterpreted or non-existent (Eggers et al., 2021).
Furthermore, the concept of motivated reasoning plays a crucial role in understanding why such claims persist. Research indicates that individuals are likely to accept information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs while rejecting contradictory evidence. This phenomenon was evident during the election, where Trump supporters' acceptance of the election's integrity shifted dramatically based on the outcome (Vail et al., 2022).
The reliability of sources that propagate the rigged election narrative is often questionable. Many of these claims originate from partisan media outlets or individuals with vested interests in discrediting the election results. In contrast, peer-reviewed studies and analyses from reputable institutions, such as Harvard University and various political psychology journals, provide a more objective assessment of the election's integrity.
Conclusion
The claim that the 2020 election was rigged is False. Extensive research and analysis have shown no credible evidence supporting widespread voter fraud or manipulation of the electoral process. The persistence of this claim can be attributed to motivated reasoning and the influence of partisan beliefs, rather than factual inaccuracies.
Sources
- Motivated reasoning: Election integrity beliefs, outcome acceptance, and polarization before, during, and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. Link
- No evidence for systematic voter fraud: A guide to statistical claims about the 2020 election. Link
- Electoral Integrity in the 2020 U.S. Elections. Link
- Electoral Integrity in the 2020 U.S. Elections - Harvard University. Link
- US election 2020: Fact-checking Trump team's main fraud claims. Link
- Trump's 2024 victory gives new life to his 2020 fraud claims. Link
- Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election. Link
- AP FACT CHECK: Trump's claims of vote rigging are all wrong. Link
