According to a recent poll of Washington state voters by the Center for the Informed Public at the University of Washington, 71 percent of respondents said they trust the state’s mail-in voting system. However, 23% of respondents said their trust had declined since the 2020 election. This is especially true among Latino and conservative voters.
The decline in voter trust may be related to an increase in election misinformation. Election misinformation comes in many forms, including but not limited to opinion articles disguised as news reports, fake versions of stories from seemingly credible sources, anonymous social media posts, conspiracy theories portrayed as fact, and voters lacking credible evidence Fraud allegations. The purpose of these misinformation campaigns is to confuse voters and undermine trust and confidence in elections.
It works best when people don’t know how to identify misinformation.
Using the tips below, you can identify and avoid misinformation, and help your friends and family do the same. As a voter, you should know the facts—and know how and where to find them.
How can you tell if you’re viewing an error message?
Check your reaction
News articles or posts with compelling headlines are often designed to evoke an emotional response rather than convey facts. If you find yourself uncomfortable with what you’re reading or watching, take the following steps.
Check the source
Trusted media will show where they get their information. Reliable sources can include government officials, researchers, prominent thought leaders, and recognized experts. If you cannot find the source, or the source is unreliable, you should question whether the information may be biased or even untrue.
Check other news providers
If you read an article or post or watch a video that you think may be inaccurate, look elsewhere. For example, check reliable nonpartisan news sites like The Associated Press or Reuters.
check author
Quickly search online for authors or people referenced in stories. Consider if they have any reason to mislead you.
Are they experts in their fields? Are they credible? Do they have any inherent biases? Are they even a real person?
Finally, ask yourself: Is this information paid for by companies, politicians, advocacy groups, or other sources with strong bias? Is there evidence to support their claims? Do you feel you have enough information to fully understand the issue, or should you know more?
Where can you go to learn more?
The Office of the Secretary of State’s Elections website and its FAQ page provide comprehensive and accurate election information. Contact your local county elections office for more information about elections and voting in your area of residence. Also, follow #TrustedInfo2022 on Twitter. No matter where you go to get the most accurate and reliable election information, remember that your vote matters. That’s why “misleaders” work hard to convince you to vote their way, or not to vote at all.
For more information, please visit sos.wa.gov/elections. Also, watch our YouTube video, Challenging the 2022 WA State Election with Steve Hobbs, youtube.com/watch?v=qEkk1EyJ0Qc.
