As President-elect Donald Trump begins filling key posts in his second administration, social media users are pushing false claims that the 2024 election was rigged in his favor. One such narrative alleges that billionaire Elon Musk facilitated the alleged fraud with his internet service provider Starlink, manipulating the vote count through election equipment such as ballot tabulators. Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk's SpaceX company, uses satellites to offer high-speed internet, even in remote areas. Some rural counties used the technology during the 2024 race to access their electronic poll books.
CLAIM: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk used his internet provider Starlink to steal the 2024 election for President-elect Donald Trump.
THE FACTS: Election officials from multiple swing states have confirmed that their voting equipment doesn’t use Starlink and is not connected to the internet. States have additional security measures in place to ensure the accuracy of the vote count. Experts emphasize that election officials and security agencies have reported no significant issues with the 2024 race.
David Becker, founder and executive director of The Center for Election Innovation and Research, stated that it is not possible for Starlink to hack or change the outcome of the US presidential election due to the security measures in place. Becker explained that voting machines are not connected to the internet during voting, and nearly all votes are recorded on paper ballots, which are audited by hand to confirm the results of electronic tabulators.
Certain jurisdictions in a few states allow for ballot scanners to transmit unofficial results using a mobile private network after voting has ended on Election Day. However, election officials stress that paper records of the ballots cast are used to authenticate the results during postelection reviews and potential recounts.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly confirmed that there is no evidence of any malicious activity impacting the security or integrity of the election infrastructure. Despite the lack of evidence, some social media users continue to suggest that Starlink could have been used to manipulate the election results.
Election officials in North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, three swing states won by Trump, have refuted claims of using Starlink equipment in their voting processes. These states have strict laws prohibiting voting systems from being connected to the internet.
While Starlink provided connectivity for electronic poll books in some jurisdictions, experts emphasize that such networks do not play a role in counting votes. The physical evidence generated by elections, including paper ballots and stringent security measures, ensures the integrity of the voting process.
Overall, the claims of Starlink being used to rig the 2024 election have been debunked by election officials and experts, who emphasize the robust security measures in place to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
