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FACT FOCUS: Misinformation about voting spreads less than a week before Election Day
False claims about ballot design and missing candidates have spread online in the final week before the 2026 US midterms, fuelling allegations of election rigging and voter fraud. The examples described have straightforward explanations, and officials say the claims do not show that votes are being manipulated.
In Ventura County, California, holes in ballot return envelopes help sight-impaired voters find where to sign and let election workers check that ballots have been removed; voters can fold ballots in different ways to keep choices hidden. In New York City, a sample ballot from a Manhattan polling site has two double-sided pages, including judicial races with no Republican or Conservative Party candidates because none are running. The article also examines a separate claim about election procedures in Arizona.
In short
- Envelope holes serve accessibility and ballot-handling purposes.
- New York ballots can have multiple pages.
- The cited claims do not prove election rigging.
Explained simply
US elections are run by state and local authorities, so ballot formats and voting procedures can differ from one place to another. Voters may receive sample ballots showing the contests in their area, and the names listed depend on which candidates are standing.
Some ballot features are designed to help voters or election workers handle ballots, rather than reveal how anyone voted. For example, envelope openings can help sight-impaired voters locate a signature line and allow staff to check that a ballot has been removed; voters can fold their ballot to keep their choices covered.
Claims about election problems can spread quickly online, especially close to voting day. Understanding who runs an election and why ballots may look different helps readers assess claims about fraud or manipulation.
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