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Election Day Errors
Election officials have multiple systems in place to ensure that regardless of any Election Day problems, people will be able to vote and have their vote counted.
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Fact: Election officials have multiple systems in place to ensure that regardless of any Election Day problems, people will be able to vote and have their vote counted.
There are over 130,000 polling locations in the United States, where nearly 800,000 poll workers help Americans vote. With such a vast operation encompassing several hundred thousand personnel and various kinds of technology, sometimes things happen, and a small percentage of locations experience technical issues. Election officials plan for these possibilities and have multiple backup systems to ensure that regardless of any Election Day problems, people have the opportunity to vote and have their vote counted. These preparations helped make the 2020 election the most secure in U.S. history.
Rumor: Minor technical issues at the polls are evidence that election results cannot be trusted.
In previous elections, conspiracy theorists have latched onto breaking news — including stories about technical issues at the polls — to spread rumors that election results cannot be trusted. These bad-faith actors often continue to cause undue panic long after the issues have been resolved.
More from the Election Rumors in 2024 series
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Overseas Voting
The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ensures that U.S. troops and other citizens serving our country abroad can exercise their right to vote. -
Official Results
Results are never final on Election Day. Election workers need time to ensure all legitimate votes are counted. -
Poll Workers
There are strict requirements for becoming a poll worker, and poll workers must complete in-depth training to ensure elections run smoothly and are conducted in a fair and nonpartisan manner.
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