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← All fact checksMorning run · October 27, 2026 · #1 by reach
PoliticsEvent claim

Is California rigging the elections?

Does the hole in California's vote-by-mail ballot envelope let people see how you voted, proving California is 'rigging the elections'?

Misleading

Claims of election rigging due to ballot envelope holes are misleading.

Claims that California is rigging elections through ballot envelope holes are misleading; while these holes exist, they are for accessibility purposes, not to manipulate votes.

+3Sources ↓Original post ↗
Likely genuine
The post as it circulated, labelled by our media check.Video · 0:51 · 868×1440

Claims

✓ 1 true · ✕ 1 false

There is a little hole on the front of this envelope where you place the stamp.13

✓ TrueCentral claimHigh confidence

California's vote-by-mail return envelopes indeed include small holes or cutouts as part of their official design. These features are confirmed by multiple sources including local election offices and fact-checkers, emphasizing their visibility and design specificity across various counties.

If you put the ballot in the right way ... you're gonna get Xavier Becerra in that hole.124

~ Partly trueModerate confidence

It is possible for specific ballot and envelope layouts to align visually with a candidate's name or a ballot field. However, this occurrence is not consistent and varies by county and district, which contests the idea of a systematic approach to election manipulation.

California is rigging the elections.245

✕ FalseHigh confidence

The assertion that the envelope holes are part of a coordinated plan to rig California elections is flatly false; election officials state the holes assist visually impaired voters and serve specific processing functions, contradicting any claims of malfeasance.

Be careful how you place your ballot in your California envelope.13

~ MisleadingModerate confidence

While it's generally good practice to handle ballots properly, implying that doing so could alter or show votes relies on misleading premises. Authorities assert the security of the voting process and the various designs ensure no systematic rigging occurs due to ballot placement.

What was posted

X

A video posted on Twitter claims that California's vote-by-mail envelopes have a hole designed to reveal votes for a specific candidate when folded correctly.

“California is rigging the elections”

“California is rigging the elections” — translated

Who posted it

X
@libsoftiktok

Account 5.9 years old

View the account on X ↗

Account check

Looks like a genuine account20%
Likelihood of automation10%

Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.

What stood out

  • Libs of TikTok is a Twitter account operated by Chaya Raichik, known for promoting conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ content.
  • The account has been suspended multiple times for violating Twitter's policies on hateful conduct and harassment.
  • Media Bias Fact Check rates Libs of TikTok as 'Extreme right' with 'Low factual reporting'.
  • The account has been cited by fact-checking organizations for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Signals (4)+
Posting cadence
High
Follower ratio
4.8
Notable news coverage
Yes
Fact check history
Yes

Account checked October 26, 2026, 02:56 UTC

The media

Video
Likely genuinePresented as real footage· The claim depends on it

✓ What is genuine

The video displays what appears to be an actual California vote-by-mail return envelope and an accompanying ballot.

The tells

  • ●●● Strong signal There are no visible indicators suggesting the video has been altered.our visual review
  • ●●● Strong signal The scene demonstrates a person actually using a real envelope and ballot.our visual review

Synthetic-media detector

Detector ran

The claim stands or falls on whether the media is real, so the detector ran.

AI-generated likelihood0%
Deepfake likelihood0%

Scores are the detector’s estimate for the file as uploaded. A low score does not rule out editing, a spliced caption, or footage shown out of context — those are judged above. Model v3.

How we checked the media

  • The video's authenticity was assessed based on its visual content.
  • We examined the video's physical plausibility against known California ballot designs.
  • Independent corroboration confirmed that the video depicts recognized ballot handling procedures.

Sources

6 sources reviewed

Further reading

  • 1Lead Stories Lead Stories provides an analysis of the actual function of envelope holes.
  • 2PolitiFact PolitiFact clarifies misconceptions surrounding ballot envelope designs.
  • 5AFP Fact Check AFP Fact Check investigates viral claims about ballot manipulation.

The full story

The claim revolves around allegations that holes in California's vote-by-mail envelopes can be used to discern voter preferences, suggesting a method to manipulate elections. In reality, these holes exist primarily for accessibility, aiding the visually impaired to locate signature lines or for processing verification purposes. Significant investigation from independent fact-check organizations and county election officials consistently finds no evidence supporting any coordinated use of these features to improperly influence election outcomes. Each California county utilizes different envelope designs which further weakens the overall contention of a systematic scheme. This narrative reflects misunderstandings about voter privacy and ballot security in vote-by-mail systems.

Kernel of truth

Holes do exist in various California ballot envelopes.

How it was framed

Misleading content

The video's implication of a coordinated rigging scheme misrepresents the intended function of ballot envelope holes.

  • Emotional language. Terms like 'rigging' evoke strong negative feelings.
  • Us vs. them. The post creates a divide, suggesting California officials are deceiving voters.

Bias

NoneSlightModerateStrong

Leans anti-California Democrats / election-skeptical. The post frames a routine ballot-envelope feature as evidence of a deliberate effort to 'rig' elections and uses a provocative caption. That framing aligns with a partisan, election-skeptical narrative rather than neutral information about ballot design or county procedures.

Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.

How we checked

54 s
  1. 1

    Conducted keyword searches pertinent to the claim about California ballot envelope holes.

  2. 2

    Reviewed information from authoritative sources concerning the envelope's design and function.

  3. 3

    Assessed the authenticity of the posted video by comparing it with known standards.

✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked

Why 86% confidence

High

We rated our confidence as HIGH due to strong corroboration from independent fact-checkers and election officials affirming the interpretation of ballot envelope features.

Limits. No recent events tied to the claim were examined since it's based on an ongoing discussion about a procedural issue rather than a specific recent occurrence.

What we don’t know

  • Could there be future reports highlighting any legitimate concerns based on the envelope design?
  • What are the broader implications if envelope designs evolve in response to public criticism?

Spot it yourself

Spot the fake

Looks suspicious, isn’t proof

  • The claim relies heavily on an emotionally charged term like 'rigging'.
  • It focuses on a specific candidate to incite viewer bias.
  • The video does not provide additional context from election officials.

The actual evidence

  • Holes are for processing and accessibility, confirmed by multiple reputable facts.
  • County designs vary, undermining claims of a statewide manipulation scheme.
  1. 1

    Look up official information from election offices.

    Verify features and functions of ballot materials.

  2. 2

    Check fact-checking organizations' assessments.

    Sources like PolitiFact provide independent evaluations.

  3. 3

    Seek expert opinions on the electoral process.

    Experts in electoral integrity can clarify misconceptions.

Takeaway

Always investigate claims of election rigging thoroughly. Facts can often be misrepresented to evoke strong reactions.

Questions people ask

Is it true that California ballot envelopes can be used to rig elections?+

No, there is no evidence supporting the idea that holes in ballot envelopes are a method for rigging votes. They serve accessibility purposes.

What are the holes in California mail-in ballots for?+

The holes are primarily for aiding visually impaired voters and for processing envelope verification, according to election officials.

Are California election ballots designed to reveal voter choices?+

California election officials confirm that the designs are for security and accessibility, not for revealing votes.

What happens if I fold my ballot a certain way?+

While certain folds might cause names or selections to align with holes, this does not happen uniformly across all counties and is not intentional.

Where can I find more information on ballot security?+

Local election offices and reputable fact-check organizations provide detailed insights into ballot security and processing methods.

Go deeper

Vote-by-Mail
A voting method in which ballots are mailed to voters to fill out and return.
Accessibility
Features designed to assist individuals with disabilities in performing tasks.
Fact-Checking
The process of verifying the factual accuracy of statements or claims.
Misinformation
False or misleading information spread regardless of intent to deceive.

People also search for

California rigging electionsCalifornia ballot envelope holesballot envelope reveals voteare California ballots riggedvote-by-mail envelope hole claim
For educators+
Understanding misinformation and its implications in election processes.The importance of fact-checking and reliable sources.Awareness of accessibility features in voting.
  • How do emotional appeals in political messaging impact public perception?
  • What are the responsibilities of social media platforms in preventing misinformation?
  • In what ways can we improve the design of election materials for better clarity?

About this check

Platform
X
Posted by
@libsoftiktok
Posted
October 25, 2026
Age when checked
1–2 days old when checked
Where it spread
United States
Audience
US audience
Language
EN
Status
● Post is live
Verified
October 27, 2026, 02:55 UTC
Published
October 27, 2026, 02:55 UTC

Reach. 31,951 likes, 2,421 replies (syndication, 27 Oct); quote post by M.A. Rothman calls it 'a new viral demonstration'; Lead Stories fact-check 26 Oct 18:03 PT

This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.

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