Wilkins
Inaccurate information about elections can have real-world consequences. And it’s even worse that falsehoods travel farther and faster than solid information.
Misinformation can target any aspect of elections, but when it comes to when, where and how to vote—that information is either right or wrong.
NCSL spoke with Maryland Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, who offered some tips for legislators.
Do your homework. It’s hard to know what’s false if you don’t know what’s true. Learn how elections work in your jurisdiction, including when voter registration closes, when absentee ballots must be requested, what ID is required at the polls and whom to contact with questions. Make sure you have a reliable contact at your local board to fact-check information that doesn’t seem right.
Pro tip: Get a tour of your local election official’s operations. You can also watch NCSL’s “Elections Defined” video series to get more information on the process.
Act locally. Local responses to bad information are more effective than statewide or national responses. Why? Because voters tend to trust people they know or see in their communities—including their own lawmakers and election officials.
Band together. Coordinate with your campaign staff, caucus, local party or some other constellation of “your” folks to decide who runs point on election information and what actions to take when the team gets wind of false information.
Pro tip: Create sample posts with correct information that can be tailored and shared at the right moment.
Respond—or don’t. Responding sooner is better than later, so long as you are prepared to calmly share credible information. But not everything needs a response. If the purveyor of nonsense has six followers, ignore it—responding might give the bad idea more oxygen. Also consider the level of harm or impact of the information in deciding whether to respond.
Nix oversharing. If you see something that gets your dander up, pause before sharing it. “Disinformers” thrive on outrage and other strong emotions and know just what buttons to push. And don’t share if you haven’t read it thoroughly!
Pro tip: If you find you have shared something that later turns out to be false, take it down.
Rely on experts. The National Association of Secretaries of State’s #TrustedInfo2024 public education initiative elevates election officials—county clerks, city boards of elections, secretaries of state, state election commissions—as the trusted sources for accurate election information. Election officials are the ones who know if a polling place is truly out of commission or if a deadline or process was changed. If you want to find those trusted sources directly, use the U.S. Vote Foundation’s local election official directory.
Wendy Underhill directs NCSL’s Elections and Redistricting Program.