Fact Check: Did Detroit Have More Votes Than People in the Election, as Trump Claims?
By Emily Czachor On 11/18/20 at 1:42 PM EST
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-detro...ms-1548448
Despite his campaign's overwhelming lack of success in its legal attempts to undermine state and local ballot counts, President Donald Trump continues to push false claims about voter fraud as he seeks to overturn results of the presidential election.
After the canvassing board in Michigan's largest county moved to certify election results for President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday, Trump took to Twitter with a deluge of accusations about tabulation misconduct in Detroit, as well as statewide.
The Claim
"In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan!" Trump tweeted Wednesday morning, contradicting results of the city and state's ballot tallies, both of which support Biden's win.
Less than an hour later, he added, "The Great State of Michigan, with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted, cannot certify the election. The Democrats cheated big time, and got caught. A Republican WIN!"
In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2020
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The Great State of Michigan, with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted, cannot certify the election. The Democrats cheated big time, and got caught. A Republican WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2020
Twitter flagged both tweets with an advisory label to notify social media users that statements included in each are unsubstantiated. "This claim about election fraud is disputed," the advisory messages read.
Trump's allegations of fraudulent voting activity and a Democratic plot to "steal" the election prompted a wave of demonstrations in the aftermath of Election Day. Supporters gathered outside the TCF Center in Detroit to demand that elections workers stop counting ballots. Among other accusations, Trump has claimed that Michigan tabulated ballots cast by deceased residents as part of Democrats' scheme to elect Biden.
The Facts
A bipartisan board of canvassers voted to certify election results in Wayne County, Michigan's largest, where Detroit is located, on Tuesday night. The move reversed a previous deadlock, led by Republican members of the panel who initially aimed to block certification.
Their reluctance at the outset cited questionable claims of voting irregularities in Detroit, which, Trump and his re-election campaign insist, skewed results in Biden's favor. Board members' ultimate decision to certify on Tuesday called the county's race for Biden.
The Trump campaign filed two lawsuits aiming to block election certification in Michigan, with one specifically alleging misconduct on the part of Wayne County officials. Judges dismissed both complaints soon after their filings, although the campaign is seeking to appeal the latter decision.
Ballot tallies collected across Michigan show Biden won the battleground state by almost 150,000 votes, prompting major news outlets to declare the Democratic former vice president's projected triumph after Election Day.
Support from Wayne County voters contributed significantly to his statewide win. According to data released by the county clerk's office, Biden earned 68 percent of the county's votes, or roughly 330,000 more than his Republican opponent.
Data additionally indicates that roughly 878,100 voters cast ballots in Wayne County, accounting for 62 percent of all those registered to vote in the jurisdiction. Preliminary numbers released by the City of Detroit's elections department shows close to 50 percent of all voters registered, slightly more than 250,000 people, cast ballots this year. Statewide data shows approximately 68 percent of Michigan's 8.1 million registered voters participated in the election.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has addressed Trump's claim that ballots attributed to deceased people were tallied during Michigan's tabulation process.
"Ballots of voters who have died are rejected in Michigan, even if the voter cast an absentee ballot and then died before Election Day," reads a message that appears on the secretary of state's website, under a tab titled, "Fact Checks."
"We are not aware of a single confirmed case showing that a ballot was actually cast on behalf of a deceased individual," the message continues, referencing the state's Qualified Voter File, which does not include the names of "deceased" individuals that Trump and his followers claim voted in the election.
The Ruling
False.
Ballot tallies recorded in the city of Detroit, throughout Wayne County and across Michigan indicate voter turnout ranged from roughly 50 to 68 percent during the general election. The numbers are inconsistent with Trump's claims that local elections departments tallied "far more votes than people" in the aftermath of Election Day.
Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that more votes were cast across Michigan than people who participated in the election. Information released by the secretary of state's office supports this position.
By Emily Czachor On 11/18/20 at 1:42 PM EST
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-detro...ms-1548448
Despite his campaign's overwhelming lack of success in its legal attempts to undermine state and local ballot counts, President Donald Trump continues to push false claims about voter fraud as he seeks to overturn results of the presidential election.
After the canvassing board in Michigan's largest county moved to certify election results for President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday, Trump took to Twitter with a deluge of accusations about tabulation misconduct in Detroit, as well as statewide.
The Claim
"In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan!" Trump tweeted Wednesday morning, contradicting results of the city and state's ballot tallies, both of which support Biden's win.
Less than an hour later, he added, "The Great State of Michigan, with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted, cannot certify the election. The Democrats cheated big time, and got caught. A Republican WIN!"
In Detroit, there are FAR MORE VOTES THAN PEOPLE. Nothing can be done to cure that giant scam. I win Michigan!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2020
Newsweek subscription offers >
The Great State of Michigan, with votes being far greater than the number of people who voted, cannot certify the election. The Democrats cheated big time, and got caught. A Republican WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2020
Twitter flagged both tweets with an advisory label to notify social media users that statements included in each are unsubstantiated. "This claim about election fraud is disputed," the advisory messages read.
Trump's allegations of fraudulent voting activity and a Democratic plot to "steal" the election prompted a wave of demonstrations in the aftermath of Election Day. Supporters gathered outside the TCF Center in Detroit to demand that elections workers stop counting ballots. Among other accusations, Trump has claimed that Michigan tabulated ballots cast by deceased residents as part of Democrats' scheme to elect Biden.
The Facts
A bipartisan board of canvassers voted to certify election results in Wayne County, Michigan's largest, where Detroit is located, on Tuesday night. The move reversed a previous deadlock, led by Republican members of the panel who initially aimed to block certification.
Their reluctance at the outset cited questionable claims of voting irregularities in Detroit, which, Trump and his re-election campaign insist, skewed results in Biden's favor. Board members' ultimate decision to certify on Tuesday called the county's race for Biden.
The Trump campaign filed two lawsuits aiming to block election certification in Michigan, with one specifically alleging misconduct on the part of Wayne County officials. Judges dismissed both complaints soon after their filings, although the campaign is seeking to appeal the latter decision.
Ballot tallies collected across Michigan show Biden won the battleground state by almost 150,000 votes, prompting major news outlets to declare the Democratic former vice president's projected triumph after Election Day.
Support from Wayne County voters contributed significantly to his statewide win. According to data released by the county clerk's office, Biden earned 68 percent of the county's votes, or roughly 330,000 more than his Republican opponent.
Data additionally indicates that roughly 878,100 voters cast ballots in Wayne County, accounting for 62 percent of all those registered to vote in the jurisdiction. Preliminary numbers released by the City of Detroit's elections department shows close to 50 percent of all voters registered, slightly more than 250,000 people, cast ballots this year. Statewide data shows approximately 68 percent of Michigan's 8.1 million registered voters participated in the election.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has addressed Trump's claim that ballots attributed to deceased people were tallied during Michigan's tabulation process.
"Ballots of voters who have died are rejected in Michigan, even if the voter cast an absentee ballot and then died before Election Day," reads a message that appears on the secretary of state's website, under a tab titled, "Fact Checks."
"We are not aware of a single confirmed case showing that a ballot was actually cast on behalf of a deceased individual," the message continues, referencing the state's Qualified Voter File, which does not include the names of "deceased" individuals that Trump and his followers claim voted in the election.
The Ruling
False.
Ballot tallies recorded in the city of Detroit, throughout Wayne County and across Michigan indicate voter turnout ranged from roughly 50 to 68 percent during the general election. The numbers are inconsistent with Trump's claims that local elections departments tallied "far more votes than people" in the aftermath of Election Day.
Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that more votes were cast across Michigan than people who participated in the election. Information released by the secretary of state's office supports this position.
