Fact Check: "The 2020 U.S. presidential election was contested by claims of fraud."
What We Know
The 2020 U.S. presidential election was marked by numerous claims of fraud, primarily propagated by then-President Donald Trump and his supporters. These claims included allegations of more votes than registered voters, unexplained surges in Democratic votes, and accusations of voting machines flipping votes from Trump to Biden. For instance, Trump claimed that voter turnout in certain areas exceeded 100%, particularly in Michigan, but investigations revealed that these claims were based on erroneous data from Minnesota, not Michigan, and that actual turnout figures were below 100% (BBC).
Moreover, allegations of sudden spikes in votes for Biden were attributed to the timing of vote counting, particularly in urban areas where Democratic support was strong. The counting of mail-in ballots, which heavily favored Biden, began only after polls closed, leading to expected increases in his vote count as these ballots were processed (BBC).
Additionally, claims regarding voting machines, specifically Dominion Voting Systems, were dismissed as unfounded, with the company stating that allegations of vote manipulation were "100% false" (BBC).
Analysis
The claims of fraud surrounding the 2020 election have been extensively analyzed and debunked by various credible sources. The BBC's fact-checking report highlights that many of the allegations made by Trump and his legal team lacked credible evidence and were often based on misunderstandings or misrepresentations of data (BBC).
For example, while Trump asserted that thousands of dead people voted, investigations found that such claims were based on flawed lists and clerical errors rather than widespread fraud (BBC). Furthermore, the claims about voting machines were not supported by any verifiable evidence, and reputable organizations, including Edison Research, refuted the allegations of vote flipping (BBC).
The Wikipedia entry on the attempts to overturn the election also provides context, noting that the "Stop the Steal" movement promoted unfounded conspiracy theories about electoral fraud, which were widely discredited (Wikipedia).
Overall, the sources used to support the claims of fraud often come from partisan or unreliable outlets, while the fact-checking efforts were conducted by established media organizations and independent researchers.
Conclusion
The claim that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was contested by claims of fraud is True. While numerous allegations were made, they were largely unfounded and debunked by credible investigations. The evidence presented by those claiming fraud was often based on misinformation or misinterpretation of legitimate electoral processes.
