Posted on March 13, 2024 by Katherine Fox.

How To Combat Election Disinformation in 2024

What is election disinformation and why is it important?

Disinformation is false content deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organization, or country.

Since the 2016 presidential election, election disinformation has been a critical issue. This threat has evolved over the past several years, as the primary origin of disinformation has moved from foreign to domestic actors. 

Since 2020, the narrative of election deniers has led to a wave of anti-voter laws and eroded trust in American elections. Politicians and other social actors spreading this disinformation are undermining public confidence in elections, increasing threats to, and danger for, election workers, and hindering voters' ability to understand and engage in elections.

The “stolen” election of 2020 continues to loom over the 2024 presidential race, as social media companies reduce efforts to limit disinformation on their platforms and threats from AI generated content intensify the spread and believability of disinformation. 

Why is combating election disinformation important?

Election disinformation perpetuates myths that threaten free and fair elections and make it difficult for voters to parse the truth of what they hear from politicians and on social media. 

Election disinformation presents many direct threats to American democracy:

Voter Suppression

Election disinformation campaigns are often thought of as tools used to influence the white, 50+ male vote. 

While this is true, disinformation campaigns frequently target communities of color and immigrants. Since 2020, they have been effective at feeding these groups false information and reducing their election turnout.

Tailored disinformation campaigns have been successfully used on immigrants whose first language is not English, providing false information about 2020 election results and the integrity of US voting processes. 

These campaigns may prey on trauma experienced during repressive regimes in immigrants’ home countries and spread across social platforms including WeChat and WhatsApp. 

Lack of knowledge of US media and and dearth of translated new sources contribute to the impact of these disinformation campaigns. 

How To Combat Election Disinformation in 2024

Why is combating election disinformation important?

Election disinformation presents many direct threats to American democracy:

Harms to Election Workers

In a common disinformation narrative, blame for the “stolen” election of 2020 rests on the shoulders of election officials who conspired to rig the presidential contest. 

These attacks include death threats, harassment, targeted violence, and attempted poisonings. 

In addition to the individual risks to election workers, these attacks threaten the foundation of American democracy. 

Almost 10% of election workers are considering leaving their jobs because of threatened or experienced violence. Shortages of election workers across the country already pose problems for the security and validity of the 2024 presidential election. 

Without election workers, free and fair elections are not possible. Threatened and actual violence against election officials and poll workers puts the security of voters and election results at risk in 2024 and beyond. 

Erosion of Confidence in Democratic Institutions 

As disinformation spreads, trust in the voting system and America’s democratic institutions decreases. 

The express target of many disinformation campaigns is decreasing public confidence in the American political system. Disinformation campaigns achieve this goal by:

• Questioning the security of our electoral apparatus

• Spreading false news about the actions of governmental branche

• Creating and disseminating disinformation about politicians and political actors. 

As confidence in America’s democratic instituions have eroded since 2016 and especially since the 2020 presidential election, we see a corresponding reduction in voter turnout and an increase in political violence. 

How can I support organizations combating election disinformation? 

Organizations combating election disinformation approach their work in different ways:

• Legal cases arguing defamation against electoral workers and other injured parties

• Educating voters about how to identify disinformation

• Spreading awareness about the forms of disinformation, especially related to AI

• Supporting quality local news and giving local newsrooms tools to fight disinformation

The below organizations are actively working to combat disinformation in the run-up to the November election. Supporting their work in 2024 gives us a chance to combat disinformation over the next 9 months, and to continue this important work beyond the 2024 Presidential election. 

If you want to support organizations combatting election misinformation in 2024, there are three types of organizations to which you can give: 501(c)(3) Public Charities, 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Organizations, and Political Action Committees (PAC). The difference between these organizations is the nature of their work.

What is nonpartisan work?

All c3 groups’ work (and ~60% of c4 groups’ work) must be strictly nonpartisan. This powerful work includes litigation, issue advocacy, and advocacy for or against ballot initiatives. However, it never promotes a particular political party or candidate, either directly or indirectly.

What is partisan work?

Partisan work reflects the proportion of funds an entity can use to support partisan or political activity, such as explicitly endorsing candidates for office, or commenting on candidates for office. Partisan work often heats up as elections approach, and it is critical for some groups to have enough partisan political funding to compete and win.

There is no right or wrong answer about giving to a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or PAC. The choice depends on what your goals are, if you would like your donation to be tax deductible, and if you are giving from a Donor Advised Fund, which cannot make contributions to 501(c)(4)s or PACs. Contributions from our family’s Donor Advised Fund all go to 501(c)(3) organizations so we focus our personal giving on 501(c)(4)s and PACs during national election years.

Learn more about organizations combating disinformation in American elections:

Protect Democracy is a nonprofit group dedicated to defeating the authoritarian threat, building more resilient democratic institutions, and protecting our freedom and liberal democracy. Their experts and advocates use litigation, legislative and communications strategies, technology, research, and analysis to stand up for free and fair elections, the rule of law, fact-based debate, and a better democracy for future generations. Protect Democracy is a 501(c)(4) organization. 

The News Literacy Project is a nonpartisan education nonprofit building a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society, creating better informed, more engaged and more empowered individuals — and ultimately a stronger democracy. In 2024, the News Literacy Project provides free trainings to help voters learn how to spot false information and hone skills for seeking out credible sources and fact-based information. The News Literacy Project is a 501(c)(3) organization.  

AIandYou addresses the need for education and awareness about artificial intelligence. They provide tools and resources to educate marginalized communities about the benefits, risks, and opportunities with artificial intelligence (AI). In 2024, AIandYou is running a multicultural public awareness campaignabout AI, Misinformation, and the 2024 Election. AIandYou is a 501(c)(3) organization. 

The American Press Insitute supports local and community-based media through research, programs, and products that foster healthy, responsive and resilient news organizations. In 2024, the American Press Insitute has a collaboration with The Associated Press to provide a monthly webinar series to local media leaders and journalists. This series is focused on cover the November election and includes critical tools to fight election disinformation and misinformation. TheAmerican Press Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Let’s take the next step together

If you want to increase the impact your wealth creates, you don’t have to do it alone. Figuring out which organizations to support and at what level to support them can be a difficult task, and the opportunities to engage don’t end when the election is over. If you need more help, reach out to Katherine Fox, CFP® and CAP®, a financial planner for inheritors to learn how Sunnybranch can help you build a plan to grow the charitable and political impact of your inherited wealth.