Fact Check: the 2020 election was rigged

The Claim: "The 2020 Election Was Rigged"

Introduction

The assertion that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged has been a contentious topic since the election concluded. Former President Donald Trump and many of his supporters have repeatedly claimed that widespread voter fraud occurred, which they argue undermined the integrity of the election process. This claim has been met with significant scrutiny and rebuttal from various sources, including governmental agencies, independent fact-checkers, and academic studies.

What We Know

Election Results: Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election with 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump's 232. Biden also received over 81 million popular votes (51.3% of the total), while Trump garnered over 74 million (46.8%) 6.
Claims of Fraud: Trump and his allies have made numerous claims of voter fraud, including allegations that certain states reported more votes than registered voters. These claims have been widely debunked by fact-checkers 4 9.
Expert Assessments: A study conducted by the Electoral Integrity Project at Harvard University assessed the integrity of the 2020 election, concluding that the election was conducted fairly and that there was no evidence of widespread fraud 2.
Government Findings: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) described the 2020 election as "the most secure in American history," stating that there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes or changed votes 9.
Legal Challenges: Numerous lawsuits were filed contesting the election results, but the vast majority were dismissed due to lack of evidence. Courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, rejected claims of widespread fraud 6.

Analysis

The claim that the 2020 election was rigged has been supported primarily by anecdotal evidence and unverified assertions from Trump and his supporters. For instance, while Trump has claimed that there were more votes than registered voters in some battleground states, these assertions have been fact-checked and found to be misleading or false 4 9.

Source Reliability:

Fact-Checking Organizations: Sources like PolitiFact and ABC News have systematically debunked claims of election fraud, providing a rigorous analysis of the evidence presented by Trump and his allies 9 10. These organizations are generally considered reliable due to their commitment to transparency and adherence to journalistic standards.
Academic Studies: The Electoral Integrity Project's findings are based on expert surveys and are published by a reputable institution (Harvard University), lending credibility to their conclusions 2. However, it is essential to consider potential biases in any research, particularly if it aligns with a specific political viewpoint.
Government Statements: Statements from CISA and other governmental bodies are based on extensive investigations and are generally viewed as authoritative. However, the political context in which these statements are made can influence public perception of their reliability 9.

Methodological Concerns: The methodology behind claims of fraud often lacks transparency. For example, many assertions are based on anecdotal evidence or isolated incidents rather than comprehensive statistical analysis. Additionally, the reliance on social media and unverified sources raises questions about the validity of these claims 5 8.

Conclusion

Verdict: False

The claim that the 2020 election was rigged is false. Key evidence supporting this conclusion includes the overwhelming results of the election, which showed Joe Biden winning both the electoral and popular votes decisively. Investigations by credible sources, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Electoral Integrity Project, found no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Furthermore, numerous legal challenges to the election results were dismissed due to lack of evidence.

It is important to note that while some individuals may continue to believe in the rigged narrative, these beliefs are largely based on anecdotal claims and misinformation rather than substantiated evidence. The context of political polarization and the influence of social media may contribute to the persistence of these claims.

However, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations in the available evidence. While extensive investigations have been conducted, the political climate surrounding the election may lead to differing interpretations of the findings. Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and consider multiple perspectives when assessing claims related to electoral integrity.