Op-Ed: Election Mailers - A How To Know What To Believe

Becky Farrell

By Sam Shumway
AARP Wyoming State Director

There is an old proverb that says, “Believe half of what you see, and nothing you hear.” This can ring especially true when considering information we receive and see during the political campaign season.

AARP has a proud 40-year history of non-partisan voter engagement and does not endorse or oppose candidates, nor does AARP make contributions to political campaigns or candidates at any level. For that reason, we at AARP Wyoming have taken more than a few inquiries from members about what to believe when it comes to the mailers, text messages, and political ads seen in Wyoming this election cycle.

At AARP we do a lot of work around fraud and scam prevention. In that work, we remind our members that scammers try hard to get you into an emotional space and away from logical thought. Many of the mailers and political ads you will see this election cycle seek to do the same.

The Center for Democracy and Technology tells us that those spreading disinformation have a number of goals. These include everything from falsely influencing public opinion, to discouraging participation in the process in order to boost turnout for a preferred candidate or party, to simply undermining trust in democratic institutions. As we hurl headfirst into the Primary Election on Aug. 20, here are some things to consider when you get a mailer, call, or see something on social media:

Why Haven’t I Heard of This Before?
If you haven’t read about your candidate supporting terrorists, or kicking puppies as mentioned in a mailer, it is a good idea to double check the source of the claims. Consider “lateral reading,” or checking online to see who else is reporting a claim being made by a mailer. If a trusted source is reporting on the alleged transgression suggested by a mailer, there may be more context. If your search doesn’t turn up other stories (not the same story printed in different publications) or even mention the alleged transgression, that is a red flag you are being sold a bill of goods.

Avoid Emotion Manipulation
Watch for emotional appeals. Disinformation often relies on emotional manipulation. Be cautious of ads and mailers that seem designed to provoke fear, anger, or outrage rather than provide factual information. Pay close attention to the language used. Hyperbolic, inflammatory, or overly simplistic language can be a red flag for disinformation.

Figure out where to fact check
If you are considering something you saw about a candidate for federal office, consider looking at factcheck.org, politifact.org or the Washington Post’s Fact Checker, which grades information from 1-to-4 Pinocchios (the more Pinocchios, the greater the lie). If there is a claim being made about a local legislative candidate who has previously been in the Legislature, you can see their votes by going to wyoleg.gov and searching 2024 budget bills at the bottom of the page. Or, if there is a particular bill you are looking for and can’t find, feel free to call our office. We won’t tell you who to vote for, but we are happy to talk you through how to find out more about a specific issue.

Keep an Eye Out For AI
This is especially important in the upcoming federal elections. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making it easier to develop deepfakes. These are highly convincing, but fake, video and audio representations of individuals and situations. These deepfakes will typically show up in your social media feeds. Don’t believe every video you see on your Facebook feed.

Another AI strategy is the use of Chatbots. These are computer programs that mimic human conversation online. They can mistakenly or intentionally provide false information. The best source for information about a candidate is the candidate themselves, and the best information about where or when to vote is your local county clerk's office.

Watch out for “pink slime sites” 
Watch out for low-quality websites that appear legitimate aren’t. These sites and social media accounts masquerade as news sites for credibility’s sake, but aren’t media. In politics these are called “pink slime sites.” These sites load quickly and have no paywalls which you would normally expect in a newspaper site. If the news appears on a “news site,” you’ve never heard of before (think Evansville Chronicle, or Casper Daily News), it could be an attempt at false news.

Escape your bubble
Take stock of the channels you consume (TV, radio, email, social media) you frequent and be willing to challenge your beliefs rather than reinforce them. Ask “what are the other sides of the story you aren’t hearing?” We all seek and sometimes accept misinformation because it affirms what we already think.

Ask the candidate directly
This may be the most important tactic for rooting out misinformation. Candidates are knocking on doors all over the state with the stated purpose of getting you to yes when asking for your vote. If you read or hear something about a candidate that sounds unusual or outrageous, ask them about it. Candidates want to hear from constituents. Before you make a decision based on something salacious you read in a mailer, ask the candidate about it.

Sam Shumway is the State Director for AARP Wyoming. To contact Shumway, call 307-432-5816 or email:  sshumway@aarp.org.