Did Biden Rig the 2020 Election? A Fact-Check
Introduction
The claim that "Biden rigged the 2020 election" has been a prominent assertion among certain groups and individuals, particularly those aligned with former President Donald Trump. This claim suggests that the election was manipulated to ensure a victory for Joe Biden, undermining the integrity of the electoral process. After a thorough examination of the available evidence and context, the verdict is that this claim lacks substantiation and is not supported by credible evidence.
What We Know
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Election Integrity: The 2020 U.S. presidential election was held on November 3, 2020, and was marked by an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The election saw Joe Biden receiving over 81 million votes (51.3% of the total) compared to Donald Trump's 74 million votes (46.8%).
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Legal Challenges: Following the election, numerous lawsuits were filed by Trump and his allies alleging widespread voter fraud and election rigging. However, these claims were consistently dismissed by courts across the country due to a lack of evidence. According to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 60 lawsuits were filed, and nearly all were rejected or withdrawn.
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Election Officials' Statements: Election officials from both parties, including former Attorney General William Barr, stated that there was no evidence of widespread fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election. Barr, who served under Trump, publicly stated in December 2020, "To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election."
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Federal and State Investigations: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) described the 2020 election as "the most secure in American history." Additionally, state and federal investigations into alleged irregularities consistently found no evidence of systemic fraud.
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Public Opinion: Despite the lack of evidence, belief in the claim that the election was rigged remains prevalent among a significant portion of the Republican base, indicating a deep-seated distrust in the electoral process that has been fueled by misinformation.
Analysis
The assertion that Biden rigged the 2020 election is not supported by credible evidence. The legal challenges mounted by Trump and his supporters failed to produce any substantial proof of fraud. The overwhelming consensus among election officials, both Republican and Democrat, is that the election was conducted fairly and securely.
While the claim persists in certain circles, it appears to be rooted more in political rhetoric and misinformation than in factual reality. The spread of such claims can be attributed to a combination of partisan media narratives, social media amplification, and a general distrust in institutions among certain voter demographics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the claim that "Biden rigged the 2020 election" is unfounded and lacks credible evidence. The available data, including statements from election officials and the outcomes of numerous legal challenges, strongly indicate that the election was conducted fairly. While the belief in this claim remains prevalent among some groups, it is essential to differentiate between opinion and substantiated fact. The verdict is that this claim is false and should be viewed in the context of ongoing political polarization and misinformation.
