ABC Station Faces Backlash After Erroneously Declaring Kamala Harris Winner in Pennsylvania
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Outrage Erupts Online After ABC Affiliate Mistakenly Declares Kamala Harris Winner in Pennsylvania Ahead of Election Day.
A significant blunder by WNEP-TV, an ABC affiliate in Pennsylvania, sparked intense online backlash after the station mistakenly declared Vice President Kamala Harris the winner in Pennsylvania during a live broadcast of the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix on October 27, 2024. The station displayed a graphic indicating Harris’s victory with 52% of the vote compared to Donald Trump’s 47%, suggesting 100% of precincts had reported. With Election Day still a week away on November 5, this error ignited reactions, especially among conservative viewers, who criticized the incident as evidence of possible election manipulation.
WNEP Scranton "mistakenly" showed the Pennsylvania results for the 2024 election.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) October 30, 2024
The ABC News affiliate called it a "test" run.
You'll never guess who they showed winning pic.twitter.com/VFL6ojIy7j
The broadcast error was seized upon by many Trump supporters on social media, who alleged it was intentional and indicative of election interference. Comments ranged from accusations of intentional fraud to calls for ABC’s broadcasting license to be revoked. One user wrote, “So the cheating has begun,” while another posted, “@ABC is cheating for the Democrat machine. Their license should be revoked.” Others speculated that the station’s error might indicate a predetermined outcome, with one commenter writing, “They know the election results before the election. That’s not at all worrying or indicative of fraud.”
The controversy deepened as some accused ABC of purposeful election interference. A number of commenters expressed that the “mistake” could hardly be an accident, with one writing, “Mistake? lol. Election interference.” Another suggested that the mistake might reveal a deeper issue with news organizations conducting test runs with hypothetical numbers. One social media user added, “If these are really the exact results come Election Day, we’re doomed and will never have a safe election again unless we do something about it.”
How on earth do they make that kind of "mistake".
— Jeff H (@politicswarblog) October 31, 2024
In response to the uproar, WNEP-TV quickly issued a statement apologizing for the mishap and explained the context behind the displayed results. According to the station, the numbers shown on-screen were part of a routine test to ensure their equipment was prepared for election night coverage. WNEP stated, “Those numbers should not have appeared on the screen, and it was an error by WNEP that they did.” The station clarified that these figures were randomly generated placeholders and were “not reflective of any actual or expected vote counts.” WNEP also noted that Pennsylvania law prohibits the counting of mail-in ballots before Election Day, ensuring that any early vote counts were impossible.
They know the election results before the election.
— GreenMan (@GreenManReports) October 31, 2024
That’s not at all worrying or indicative of fraud.
Despite this clarification, the incident reignited tensions surrounding election security, with Pennsylvania being a vital battleground state with 19 electoral votes. Given the close call in the 2020 presidential election, where Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania by 1.17%, both Trump and Kamala Harris have focused significant campaign efforts in the state. Pennsylvania’s election procedures specify that polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, and no mail-in ballots can be processed until the polls close, which the network emphasized in its statement.
Early voting data on 10/30 shows 58% of voters are Democrats in Pennsylvania. Harris only needs Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania to win 270 votes. Harris doesn't even need the other battleground states to win election. Don't pay attention to the polls. Everyone needs to… pic.twitter.com/2etoyaogYP
— Joe G (@EastEndJoe) October 30, 2024Advertisement
This recent error also comes after previous tensions between ABC Network and conservative viewers following the September 10 presidential debate. MAGA supporters accused ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of bias, pointing out instances where Trump was fact-checked mid-debate, but Harris was not. For example, Muir corrected Trump’s statement about Haitian immigrants allegedly harming pets in Springfield, Ohio, noting, “ABC News did reach out to the city manager there. He told us there have been no credible reports of specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
As the presidential race continues, incidents like this highlight the sensitive and often polarizing nature of election coverage. With tensions high in Pennsylvania, the ABC affiliate’s error has only amplified the scrutiny on media outlets, emphasizing the need for accuracy in all election-related broadcasts. For many voters, this mistake underscores the importance of transparent and reliable election reporting and highlights how critical every detail becomes in a hotly contested political landscape.
So the cheating has begun.
— John M. Kanaley (@Kanaley) October 31, 2024
During the last election, we witnessed unprecedented action when vote counts were abruptly paused, despite clear indicators of Trump’s lead. In a meticulously calculated move, they assessed exactly how many votes were required to secure a different outcome—and then delivered.
— FRESH CULTURE (@FRESHCULTUREIAM) October 31, 2024
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
