FACT CHECK: Facebook Video Does Not Show ‘Ballot Mule’ In Lincoln, Nebraska
A video shared on Facebook purports to show a “ballot mule” caught on camera at a library in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Verdict: False
The Lancaster County Election Commission indicated the individual seen in the video was a first-time voter, not a “ballot mule” via a statement published on their website. A spokesperson for the Commission directed Check Your Fact to the same statement when contacted regarding the claim.
Fact Check:
Incumbent and Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer holds a six-point lead over independent challenger Dan Osborn, according to internal polling from the Fischer campaign, The Hill reported. The poll shows Fischer at 49% compared to Osborn’s 43%, the outlet indicated.
The Facebook video, which has been viewed over 3,000 times as of writing, purports to show a “ballot mule” caught on camera at a library in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In the video, a young male can be seen returning his ballot to a drop box outside the library. The male then poses for multiple selfies in front of the drop box.
“We have to make this TOO BIG TO RIG.. Ballot mule caught on camera at Eiseley Branch Library located at 1530 Superior Street, Lincoln, Nebraska on November 2nd at approximately 4:15 pm,” the video’s caption reads. The video appears to be filmed by an individual sitting in their car.
The claim is false. The male is not a ballot mule, but a first-time voter, according to 6 News WOWT, who cited the Lancaster County Election Commission. The commissioner reviewed security footage of the drop box and determined the young male’s identity by retrieving his ballot.
“[The young voter] took a selfie to memorialize this important milestone in his life,” the commissioner said, according to the outlet. “It’s shameful and un-American to intimidate and threaten anyone for exercising their right to vote. They should remove the post and apologize immediately,” the commissioner added. (RELATED: No, DOJ Did Not Find ‘More Than 300 Cases’ Of Voting For Money Schemes)
Likewise, the Lancaster County Election Commission shared a statement on Facebook indicating that “a member of malicious conspiracy theorist group” had recorded the video of the young male and “erroneously implied he was doing something wrong.” The Commission also revealed it had contacted the police following social media threats directed at the young male and the police got in touch with him.
Additionally, Lead Stories debunked the claim, citing the same statement from the Lancaster County Election Commission, which was also shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
A spokesperson for the Commission directed Check Your Fact to the same statement when contacted regarding the claim.