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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Ballot Printer Delayed Maricopa Voting, Contrary to Unfounded Claims

Ballot Printer Delayed Maricopa Voting, Contrary to Unfounded Claims

Tabulating machines at some polling locations in Maricopa County, Arizona, couldn’t process ballots during part of Election Day, though affected voters could leave their ballots in a secure box or go elsewhere to vote. But some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, made the unfounded claim that the setback indicated an attempt to “steal” the election.

Counting Mail-In Ballots Delays Results, But Doesn’t Denote Fraud

Counting Mail-In Ballots Delays Results, But Doesn’t Denote Fraud

Mail-in ballots have become a popular way to vote in the U.S. But the unfounded claim persists that mail ballots lead to rampant fraud and, if counted after Election Day, they are suspect. By law, many states don’t start counting mail ballots until after polls close, and some continue to accept them for days after Election Day if they are postmarked by that date.

Social Security Increase Due to Inflation, Not Presidential Action

Social Security Increase Due to Inflation, Not Presidential Action

A deleted tweet from the White House and remarks by President Joe Biden could leave the false impression that Biden’s policies have something to do with an increase in Social Security payments. But the increase is set by law and is linked to inflation.

MAGA Inc.

A super PAC affiliated with former President Donald Trump.

Fabricated Screenshot Misrepresents GOP’s ‘Commitment to America’

Fabricated Screenshot Misrepresents GOP’s ‘Commitment to America’

House Republicans unveiled a list of policy goals called the “Commitment to America” in September. But a fabricated screenshot purporting to show the agenda has been circulating on social media. None of the items included in the image come from the agenda — although some echo proposals made by the conservative Republican Study Committee.

What Biden’s Marijuana Pardon Proclamation Does — and Does Not Do

What Biden’s Marijuana Pardon Proclamation Does — and Does Not Do

In early October, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation pardoning certain individuals previously charged with or convicted of simple marijuana possession offenses under federal and Washington, D.C., law. But Biden exaggerated the scope when he claimed he was keeping a promise not to incarcerate those convicted of simple possession charges.

Social Media Claims Misrepresent Boston U. Study of What Causes Severity of COVID-19 Strains

Social Media Claims Misrepresent Boston U. Study of What Causes Severity of COVID-19 Strains

To study the role of the spike protein in the severity of COVID-19 illnesses, researchers exposed 10 mice prone to develop severe disease to a hybrid version of the virus. Eight mice died. Social media posts say researchers created a dangerous new variant with an “80 PERCENT Kill Rate,” potentially leaving the false impression that this pertains to humans. Also, the hybrid virus used in the study had a lower mortality rate than the original virus had on mice.