Fact-Check: "Graphs show Joe Biden received 100% of the votes overnight resulting in a momentarily vertical graph"
What We Know
The claim that Joe Biden received 100% of the votes overnight, resulting in a vertical graph, stems from the counting of absentee ballots in key states like Wisconsin. According to the Associated Press, on election night, President Trump initially led in Wisconsin, but as absentee ballots were counted, particularly from Milwaukee, a significant number of votes for Biden were reported. This led to a sharp increase in Biden's vote tally, which was visually represented as a steep spike in graphs shared on social media.
The phenomenon, often referred to as the "blue shift," is explained in detail in a study by the MIT Election Lab, which discusses how mail-in ballots, predominantly cast by Democrats, were counted later in the evening. In Milwaukee, for example, around 169,000 absentee ballots were counted after 3 a.m., which contributed to the sudden spike in Biden's vote count.
Analysis
The assertion that Biden received 100% of the votes overnight is misleading and lacks context. While it is true that a significant number of votes were reported for Biden at once, this was due to the timing of absentee ballot counting rather than any fraudulent activity. As noted by Maggie Koerth, a senior science writer for FiveThirtyEight, the spike in votes for Biden was a result of the counting process, not an indication of vote tampering.
Furthermore, Reuters reported that similar spikes were observed in other states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, where late-arriving mail-in ballots also favored Biden. These reports emphasize that the counting of absentee ballots was conducted according to state laws, which require that such votes be reported all at once, leading to the appearance of sudden increases in vote totals.
The sources used to support this analysis are credible and include established news organizations and academic research. However, it is important to note that some social media narratives surrounding these events may have been sensationalized or taken out of context, leading to misconceptions about the integrity of the election process.
Conclusion
The claim that Joe Biden received 100% of the votes overnight is Partially True. While there were indeed significant spikes in Biden's vote count due to the late counting of absentee ballots, the assertion lacks critical context regarding the counting process and the nature of absentee voting. The votes did not appear "out of nowhere"; they were part of a legitimate counting process that followed state regulations.
Sources
- THE BLUE SHIFT IN THE 2020 ELECTION
- Graph shows thousands of ballots reported at once ...
- Vote spikes in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania do ...
- The false and misleading claims President Biden made ...
- No, Joe Biden Wasn't Suddenly Awarded 138000 Votes in ...
- Election workers didn’t ‘find’ Biden votes overnight. They ...
- Fact check: What's true about 2020 election, vote counts, ...
- No, Joe Biden did not magically 'find' votes in Michigan