War die US Wahl betrügerisch? Hilf mir zu zeigen, dass es nicht so war.

August 10, 2021 10:49 PM

How to convince the skeptical that the 2020 election wasn't fraudulent? Bonus for sources posting in German, which anti-establishment Europeans might find trustworthy.

A friend in Switzerland is convinced mainstream media has an agenda (which I can't dispute) and is therefore unreliable, propaganda. They are also IMO woefully misinformed about COVID and vaccines, so this struggle is possibly hopeless; but maybe you got something? Thanks.

posted by Rash to Law & Government (5 answers total)

If some nebulous they were rigging an election, why didn't they bother to tip a couple of Senate races while they were at it so they'd have a more useful majority in the Senate? Or if they insist it was all about Trump, what's with letting some of the loudest Trumpists win close races in the House?

It defies logic and belief that someone could pull off election tampering smoothly enough that they didn't get caught despite the recounts and audits, yet were stupid enough to forget the downballot races. Voters actually hating Trump enough to split their tickets or choose not to cast a vote in the Presidential race is a much more parsimonious explanation.
posted by wierdo at 12:11 AM on August 11, 2021 [5 favorites]

Best answer: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/panorama/diskussion-familie-freunde-verschwoerungstheorien-100.html

https://www.swr.de/swr2/wissen/verschwoerungsmythen-was-tun-wenn-familie-und-freunde-abdriften-102.html

A couple links to articles about how to argue against conspiracy theories. The long and short of it is, if the person is deep into the theory, they cannot be convinced by facts. They may be feeling scared and feeling a lack of control. If you can, keep contact open, because you may be their last connection to reality.
posted by starfishprime at 12:28 AM on August 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Mod note: A couple deleted. Please note that Ask Metafilter is not for general discussion (sharing your personal opinion, etc.) of a topic (please go to the main site for that), but for specifically, concretely answering or helping to answer the posted question. In this case, OP is looking for resources and factual information (especially in German) to share with suspicious anti-establishment Europeans regarding the 2020 US presidential election.
posted by taz (staff) at 12:49 AM on August 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

A friend in Switzerland is convinced mainstream media has an agenda (which I can't dispute) and is therefore unreliable, propaganda.

Have you asked them what sources they do find reliable? That would help narrow the search. Would they believe first-hand accounts by election workers? Reports from neutral election observers?

For example, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (of which Switzerland is a member) conducted an observation of the 2020 US election, as it has done since 2002. Its final report [pdf], which is unfortunately only available in English, concluded:

Early voting was generally well organized and implemented professionally by election workers and administrators.
...
Election day was orderly and took place in a peaceful atmosphere without unrest or intimidation. COVID-19 mitigating measures were generally in place and followed. Polling stations were suitable for independent access by persons with disabilities, and equipment and materials were sufficient for the conduct of the polls with polling officials knowledgeable of the procedures. A few jurisdictions experienced critical problems with electronic poll-books or voting machines, but interruptions during polling were promptly addressed.
...
In the limited number of polling stations where the vote count was observed, polling officials conducted these processes professionally, efficiently and openly

The report does make several recommendations for improvements in US elections, but they're almost all changes that would have made Trump's performance even worse. In other words, to the extent that the election was not perfect, it actually benefited Trump:

This report offers a number of recommendations to support efforts to bring elections in the United Stated closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections. Priority recommendations relate to the system of Electoral College in terms of vote equality, redistricting processes independent of partisan considerations, ratification of signed international instruments impacting on elections, regulation of basic electoral procedures on federal levels and passing legislation to stop any discriminatory impact on minorities, voting rights of citizens with criminal convictions as well as citizens in the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, reduction of the number of unregistered voters, harmonization of voter identification requirements, reviewing the formula for the composition of the Federal Election Commission, measures to prevent intolerant rhetoric in social media, establishing reasonable time limits for election-related court cases, and fostering access of international and citizen observers.

posted by jedicus at 7:50 AM on August 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

I wonder if your friend might accept Roger Köppel. He is a Swiss SVP Nationalrat and self-confessed Trump Fan. He has videos on Facebook like this one: Trump, der Wahlbetrug und ich.

Please understand I am no fan of Köppel, but he is one of the few German speaking Trump fans who also sees Trump critical at the same time, and is able to explain his criticism. So i find his videos and articles (He is editor in chief of Weltwoche) useful.
posted by 15L06 at 11:19 AM on August 11, 2021