Election Eve: Using Clear Comms & Facts to De-escalate Election Disinformation
This story was written in partnership with Teresa Paulsen, founder of Teresa Paulsen Communication.
If you haven’t gotten around to voting, there’s still time left. And if you aren’t tired of election season, consider these communication-centric tidbits:
Mis, dis and mal-information abounds—especially when it comes to elections. Elections have winners and losers, of course. And losers have been questioning election results since the beginning of elections. But in today’s hyper speed, keyboard warrior society, anyone with a beef can instantly feed the world their view. Some views are based on fact. Many are not. Read what news outlets are doing to combat mis and disinformation right now. And check out the resources below in Before We Go.
Restoring trust in elections is an ongoing process that requires deliberate, consistent efforts. Research shows that humans are naturally drawn to dramatic or potentially threatening information over neutral or positive news—a survival mechanism rooted in our biology. For example, studies in evolutionary psychology explain that our attention is often biased toward negative stimuli as a way to detect threats and improve survival chances. This leads us to fixate on alarming or dramatic headlines, which can impact public perceptions of election integrity.
Preserving and Restoring Trust
That’s why clear, fact-based communication plays such a vital role. And believe it or not, it’s working. Despite inflammatory headlines, most people have confidence in elections, according to recent surveys from Axios, New York Times/Siena College and Pew Research. (Note the headlines are full of drama, but the surveys tell a more calming story.) Studies also show voters trust local. Our community poll workers are our friends, neighbors, aunts, and uncles. They are earnest in their civic duty and we trust them. In fact, 92% of registered voters think elections in their community will be run well, compared to 73% believing that elections will be run well nationally, according to Pew Research.
We can all take part in clear, fact-based communication. Next time someone wonders about the accuracy of the election outcome, just ask: How was your voting experience? Do you think your vote was counted accurately? Most likely, the answers will be yes. We can de-escalate the hyperbole with civil conversations in personalized, tangible terms.
Before We Go…
Get the facts on how elections are run and protected:
How voting machines work and why they’re hard to hack: ABC News
Cyber threats and the election: Wall Street Journal
Rumor vs. Reality: Election Security Rumor vs. Reality | CISA
FAQs from National Association of State Election Directors: https://www.nased.org/faqs
National Election Protection Efforts: Election Security | Homeland Security
Commentary: Nebraska Examiner: Omahans are in a unique position to counter election threats
Securing the 2024 Election: CISA Director Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Visits UNO’s NCITE
Pop Quiz Answers
Most people DO say they will trust the results of the 2024 presidential election.
In a recent New York Times/Siena College Poll, 78% of respondents said they will trust the results of the 2024 presidential election a great deal or a fair amount.
Ballot drop boxes WERE set afire recently.
Sometimes there is crime associated with elections, unfortunately. Know that unauthorized interference with voting or ballots is a criminal offense and is prosecuted.
Voting machines are NOT connected to the internet.
Machines that count your vote are not connected to the internet. For more on how things work, check your local election office or another trusted explainer.