Users of the app are then presented with what looks like a typical social media feed with text, images, and videos. But instead of… Lime green memes about KamalaWhether it’s cooking videos on Instagram or “very prim” videos on TikTok, initial indications suggest the feed will be filled with livestreams from drop boxes in Wisconsin or reports of Wi-Fi-connected voting machines in Arizona.
While the app isn’t actually up and running yet, we have a glimpse of its possible future thanks to test posts from Engelbrecht’s team covering the wide range of conspiracies the group has been pushing.
“It says I already voted by mail?” asks D from Loudoun County, Virginia, in a test post that appeared on my wall. “I moved a few months ago and went to update my voter registration and address. They told me I already voted by mail, but I didn’t.”
Meanwhile, JR in Kent County, Delaware, claimed in another test post that someone was hosting a bake sale “to try to get people to vote for certain candidates” (there’s a very clear sign on the cookie table listing prices; a quick reverse image search shows the image dates back to at least 2017).
Meg Denning, who works with True the Vote, also posted, stating: “All the machines stopped working and there was one wifi (sic) connection”, referring to A favorite conspiracy Among electoral deniers, it is argued that the Internet itself has been used to carry out electoral fraud on a large scale.
While these are just test posts, the section of the app that allows users to report their own claims shows just how focused True the Vote is on promoting election conspiracies.
The app also allows users to indicate their location, precinct number, and whether they are a poll worker or poll watcher. It also offers a predefined list of potential voting issues that can be reported, such as “vote harvesting or trafficking” and “non-citizen voting,” which are concerns that groups like True the Vote have been unsubstantially promoting in recent months.
If you feel your situation is life-or-death, the app even has a built-in 24/7 emergency hotline you can call to voice your outrage. “Thank you for calling True the Vote,” the cheerful female automated voice answers after a couple of rings. “We appreciate your commitment to freedom.”
Nobody answered when I called.
The automated voice told me to send an email or leave a voicemail before logging out: “Always moving forward.”
The chat room
VoteAlert is probably not the best app for getting election news you can rely on. So where, aside from WIRED Politics of course, do you get your political fix? For me, it’s a combination of newsletters (Reliable sources, Strategy manual, Garbage Dayetc.) and services such as Electoral line (which I highly recommend). I also spend a lot of time on X, which remains the best place to see what electoral conspiracy trends are taking hold.
What about you? Do you still rely on traditional media and social networks? Or are you on other platforms? Send us your feedback at mail@wired.com to let us know!