Russian-linked video falsely claims Haitian voter fraud in Georgia, fueling election disinformation

In a disinformation effort linked to Russian interference, a falsified video claiming that a Haitian immigrant voted multiple times in Georgia has gained widespread attention on social media. The video, which Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger condemned as “targeted disinformation,” has been confirmed as foreign interference by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The video depicts a man displaying multiple Georgia driver’s licenses while asserting he has voted several times in favor of the Democratic ticket. Following a backlash, Raffensperger labeled the video as “false and part of a disinformation effort.” He added that the CISA is investigating the video’s source in collaboration with federal and state partners, urging Elon Musk and other social media platform leaders to remove it from circulation immediately.

“The IC assesses that Russian influence actors manufactured a recent video that falsely depicted individuals claiming to be from Haiti and voting illegally in multiple counties in Georgia,” read a joint statement from the three agencies. Officials indicated that this video, among other fabricated content, is part of “Moscow’s broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans.”

“This is a classic example of disinformation designed to stir confusion and mistrust just before the election,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “We are working to trace this video’s origins to curb the spread of these misleading narratives.”

This incident underscores a broader trend of disinformation targeting immigrant communities, particularly Haitians, in an election cycle rife with racially charged political rhetoric. Earlier in the year, false claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were attacking residents’ pets went viral, propagated initially by neo-Nazi groups and later echoed by some high-profile political figures, including former President Donald Trump. The consequences were severe, with bomb threats forcing multiple school closures and heightening public tensions in the Ohio community.

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— GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) November 1, 2024

For political scientists, this recent video is another unsettling reminder of how their identity and status are being weaponized for political gain. 

“Haitians are a convenient scapegoat,” said Dr. Sharon Austin Wright, a political science professor at the University of Florida. Wright teaches African American history and is the author of “The Caribbeanization of Black Politics: Race, Group Consciousness, and Political Participation in America.”

“It’s really sad that even now, when we have so many Haitians doing well and Haitian American elected officials, people still think of them as easy scapegoats.”

The ODNI, FBI, and CISA warned that “in the lead-up to election day and in the weeks and months after,” Russian actors are likely to release more disinformation to “undermine trust in the integrity of the election.” 

The ongoing investigation into this video underscores the urgency of monitoring and countering disinformation as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

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