Video shows a touchscreen voting machine refusing a Republican vote in 2026

Video shows a touchscreen voting machine refusing a Republican vote in 2026
	FALSE
	"A video shows an electronic voting machine in the 2026 midterm elections refusing to let a voter select the Republican candidate, proving a "national emergency" of vote flipping."
Domain	Politics & Elections
Tactic	False Context; Manipulation;
Era	Current
First seen	2026
Origin	A video posted on X on October 21, 2026, splicing together clips from 2019 and 2014
Last reviewed	2026-10-26
	Further reading: books on Politics & Elections

The claim that a video shows a touchscreen voting machine refusing a Republican vote in 2026 spread on X in late October 2026, during early voting for the US midterm elections. The post called the situation a "national emergency" and said machines would not let voters choose Republican candidates. The video was made of two old clips: one from a 2019 Republican primary runoff in Mississippi, in which both candidates were Republicans, and one from a 2014 congressional election in Virginia. Neither shows the 2026 election, and the Mississippi clip could not have shown a vote switching from a Republican to a Democrat.

The claim

The post, published on October 21, 2026, showed a hand pressing a candidate's name on a touchscreen while a different choice appeared to register. The accompanying text said the machine would not let the voter select the Republican candidate and described the situation as a national emergency, implying it was happening in the current election.

What the evidence shows

Fact-checkers at Lead Stories identified the sources of both parts of the video:

The first 41 seconds came from Mississippi on August 27, 2019, during the Republican primary runoff for governor between then-Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. Because both candidates were Republicans, the clip cannot show a vote being switched from a Republican to a Democrat.
The final 31 seconds came from Virginia on November 4, 2014, during the general election for the state's 2nd Congressional District between Democrat Suzanne Patrick and Republican Scott Rigell, who won. That footage is about twelve years old.

Neither clip is from 2026, and the combined video was presented without any indication of where or when the footage was recorded. Fact-checkers rated the claim false.

How recycled footage works

Recycling old images and video is one of the most common forms of election misinformation. Real footage of a past incident is presented as new, often combined with other clips, and given a caption that ties it to current events. Because the footage is genuine, it can look authentic, and viewers rarely check where it came from. Isolated touchscreen problems have been recorded in many past elections, which provides a ready supply of clips that can be reused each cycle.

Why it persists

Clips like this spread quickly during early voting, when people are primed to worry about problems and when real reports of individual touchscreen errors are circulating. The emotional framing, a "national emergency," encourages immediate sharing. Similar recycled clips have circulated in previous elections, sometimes with the parties reversed, depending on who is sharing them.

Lessons for readers

Ask when and where a video was recorded. A reverse image search on a frame can often find the original.
Look for details that reveal the location or date, such as candidate names, ballot layout or local signage.
Be suspicious of videos that combine several clips without explaining their sources.
Check claims about voting problems with your state or local election office.
Remember that old incidents, even real ones, are not evidence of current problems.

Sources

Ed Payne, "Fact Check: Video Does NOT Show Touchscreen Voting Machine Selecting Wrong Candidate From 2026 Election -- Clips In Video Are From 2014 And 2019," Lead Stories, October 22, 2026.