By Jazmyn Ferguson
As we approach the March 5th primary election, there is a looming threat of voter suppression that specifically targets Black voters in Texas: the complicated and pervasive spread of disinformation.
Black voters are more than familiar with their community’s long history of being disenfranchised. The United States has only been able to claim status as a democracy since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act when Black people were first legally guaranteed the right to vote. Yet even today, suppressive policies such as voter ID laws, rollbacks to early voting, and the disenfranchisement of current and formerly incarcerated people disproportionately affect our community. This silencing was fought by our grandparents, our parents, and all of us must continue to fight today.
However, in our current fight to be heard in this 2024 election season, disinformation is a uniquely insidious deterrent to voting that takes advantage of our community’s understanding of this history, and serves to silence our voices even further.
The word “disinformation” has been thrown around much in the last several years, but what it means is clear: information disseminated with the intent of misleading a person or community.
We’ve seen the threat of disinformation during elections before. During the 2020 campaign, numerous false claims were spread regarding the efficacy of mail-in and absentee voting. The mistrust in our voting processes made way for larger conspiracy theories to spread regarding the legitimacy of the election results, and more. We will see it again in 2024.
In states that have seen their primary dates come and go already, the threat of disinformation was reliably present. Disinformation campaigns spread on social media, through robocalls, and more, have sought to intentionally stifle voter turnout in certain areas; and communities of color are often specifically targeted by these campaigns.
Ahead of the March 5th election, it is critically important to scrutinize where you’re getting your voting information from. It can be easy to linger on TikTok, Twitter, or Facebook when seeing a claim that resonates or that might make sense, taking it as truth on its face. However, we must question that initial sense of confirmation. Is the account a reliable source for information? Are Dallas’s local news outlets reporting the same information? Does the local Board of Elections have information to offer? A habit of fact-checking is a good defense to protect yourself.
Additionally, consider your own role as a trusted messenger in your community. Chances are, your friends and your family believe you when you speak about an issue close to you. Or, they’re more likely to show up to vote if it’s you asking them, rather than an anonymous or polarizing figure. The issue of disinformation can be an intimidating one, but it’s best fought in territory where you’re most comfortable—in your own community. Allies in this fight, such as organizations like PEN America, have resources to help.
Take your own role in this fight seriously. Ensure that you’re not accidentally sharing misleading information with those close to you; and when you fear that those around you may be guilty, speak up. Don’t let someone else’s lies limit your or your community’s power.
There is so much at stake in this election. Regardless of why you plan to vote on March 5th—whether it be an interest in a particular political issue, a preference for a candidate for president, or concern for the future of American democracy—don’t let faulty information deter you. Disinformation disenfranchises. Be aware and be heard.
Jazmyn Ferguson is a community organizer, working towards educational equity and the empowerment of Black voters in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.