Viral Video Sparks “Voter Fraud” Conspiracy Theories on WeChat

A video allegedly showing a New York voter struggling with a malfunctioning voting machine went viral Thursday on WeChat, sparking concerns among some viewers that voting machines were being rigged in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. 

Yet after fact-checking the video, Documented uncovered the incident actually took place in Kentucky, not New York. Local media in Kentucky have already debunked the video as misinformation and confirmed the malfunctioning voting machine was a result of “voter error”. 

Speaking to Kentucky Public Radio, Kentucky Attorney General spokesperson Kevin Grout reassured voters that “the elections are secure, and any potential issues will be addressed quickly.”

The video, posted by the WeChat account “小毛豆是弟弟” (translated as “little edamame is my younger brother”), shows a voter repeatedly tapping a small bubble to select Trump on a “ballot marking device.” The device, which prompts users to verify selections and prints a paper ballot, does not respond to the voter’s selection. When the voter tries again, it appears that Harris’s name, located just below Trump’s, is selected instead. The user captioned the video in Chinese, writing, “My classmate in New York tried to select Trump’s name 10 times with no response. When he pressed harder, it selected Harris instead. Does anyone know what’s going on?” 

Within 17 hours of being published on WeChat, the video gained 4,900 likes, was shared over 21,300 times, saved more than 2,700 times, and received 134 comments. Some viewers quickly pointed to conspiracy theories, claiming this incident reflected widespread “voter fraud.” The most liked comment, with over 2,400 likes, suggested that “Pelosi’s company produces rigged voting machines” — misinformation widely debunked by media outlets in 2020.

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Further research confirmed the video was taken in Kentucky, not New York, as the ballot featured in the video included Jill Stein’s name, the Kentucky Party’s presidential candidate, which aligns with the Kentucky ballot, not New York’s.

Kentucky Public Radio also reported that the video was filmed in Laurel County and circulated widely on right-wing media platforms. The Laurel County Clerk’s Office clarified to Kentucky Public Radio that “[The machine] remained at its location in the vote center and was set face down until the representative from the Attorney General’s Office arrived to investigate. There were no claims of any issues with the device prior, and none since it went back into service. The voter who posted the video did cast her ballot, which she said was correct.”

Kentucky Secretary of State’s spokesperson, Michon Lindstrom, also confirmed to Kentucky Public Radio that the incident was due to “voter error.”

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