Far-right conspiracy theorists look to install themselves as poll workers, report says


Members of far-right social media platforms are gearing up to serve as official poll workers for the midterm elections, according to a new report obtained Monday by Politico.
The report, from a non-partisan research group called Advance Democracy Inc., reportedly found examples of users on Truth Social, the platform founded by former President Donald Trump, discussing their intent to identify voter fraud in the midterms. These discussions were reportedly seen in a variety of posts compiled from March to October of this year.
Politico said the users had talked about installing their own software into official election databases, as well as bringing cameras into polling places to watch voters. Many of them had also reportedly said they would falsely claim to be Democrats on their poll worker applications.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Individuals seeking to become election workers to prove unsubstantiated theories of election fraud, or to disqualify certain votes to change election outcomes, present a threat to the security of American elections," the report said, per Politico.
In addition to Truth Social, similar posts were seen on other far-right social media platforms, Advance Democracy Inc. said. This includes sites like Gab and Gettr, where many conspiracy theories about voter fraud have been swirling. Many of these posts were tied to far-right groups such as QAnon and other similar conspiracy fringes.
Discourse among poll workers has reportedly become a significant concern in the leadup to the midterms, especially among groups who will try to install election-denying poll workers in key positions.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Sodium batteries could make electric flight viable
Under the Radar Low-cost fuel cell has higher energy density and produces chemical by-product that could absorb CO2 from the atmosphere
-
Flying into danger
Feature America's air traffic control system is in crisis. Can it be fixed?
-
Pocket change: The demise of the penny
Feature The penny is being phased out as the Treasury plans to halt production by 2026
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges