PolitiFact – Photo of bagged ballots in California isn’t evidence of misconduct, contrary to claims

The Related Press known as California’s gubernatorial election for incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 8, simply minutes after the polls closed.

Newsom gained by a big margin over his Republican opponent, however current social media posts have steered that his victory was fraudulent. 

“Have a look at all of these ballots not counted in California and this is just one polling location,” one tweet mentioned. “But Gavin Newsom was declared governor minutes after polling stations closed.”

A picture within the tweet reveals a couple of couple dozen grey duffel luggage on the bottom behind a number of individuals standing round folding tables bearing white packing containers. 

“@gavinnewsom chosen, not elected,” mentioned the caption on one Instagram put up sharing a screenshot of the tweet.

It was flagged as a part of Fb’s efforts to fight false information and misinformation on its Information Feed. (Learn extra about our partnership with Meta, which owns Fb and Instagram.)

The unique tweet claims the picture was taken at South El Monte Library in Los Angeles County on Nov. 10. 

However Mike Sanchez, a spokesperson for the county registrar’s workplace, advised PolitiFact the image was not taken there.

The picture doesn’t present a polling place; the photograph was taken practically 4 miles away on the county’s vote-by-mail operation middle within the metropolis of Trade, Sanchez mentioned. That’s the place all absentee ballots are processed and verified earlier than they’re moved to the county’s central vote-counting facility within the metropolis of Downey. 

The baggage within the photograph contained absentee ballots that have been deposited in drop packing containers on Election Day after which collected by election employees. After being processed and verified, they’re relocated to Downey to be tallied, a course of that’s ongoing throughout the election canvassing interval, Sanchez mentioned. 

Sanchez famous that the county hasn’t declared Newsom the winner; information organizations like The Related Press made the decision based mostly on the county’s unofficial election outcomes. These outcomes are scheduled to be licensed Dec. 5 in spite of everything eligible votes are tallied, Sanchez mentioned. 

The Related Press, which known as the race for Newsom “minutes after the California polls closed” on election night time, calls races as soon as it “is absolutely assured a race has been gained — outlined most easily because the second a trailing candidate now not has a path to victory.” 

As of Nov. 17, the secretary of state’s workplace estimated that 1.7 million ballots have been nonetheless unprocessed in California.

“It usually takes weeks for counties to course of and rely the entire ballots,” the workplace’s web site says. “Election officers have roughly one month to finish their in depth tallying, auditing, and certification work (often known as the official canvass.)”

As of Nov. 17, with all 25,554 precincts in California “partially reporting” their outcomes, Newsom had about 5.4 million votes, or 59%, whereas Republican state Sen. Brian Dahle had about 3.8 million votes, or 41%.

Dahle conceded on Nov. 9. 

Our ruling

The Instagram put up claims that the photograph reveals uncounted ballots in California at a polling location and means that that is proof of fraud, as a result of Newsom was declared the governor shortly after polls closed. 

There are a number of factors improper right here. 

The photograph was taken at a county facility the place election employees have been processing and verifying absentee ballots. They have been uncounted, as a result of they’d not but been relocated to the county’s central location for tallying votes. This course of usually takes weeks, and it’s not proof of fraud, as this put up suggests. 

The Related Press — not the state of California, which was nonetheless counting ballots as we wrote this fact-check — declared Newsom the winner after the polls closed. The Related Press calls winners in races when it concludes there’s no method a trailing candidate can mount a profitable comeback and clinch the race. 

California is anticipated to certify its election outcomes Dec. 5, in spite of everything eligible ballots have been counted. 

The assertion within the put up incorporates a component of fact however ignores crucial info that will give a distinct impression, so we fee it Principally False.