As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to appoint key figures for his second term, social media is rampant with false assertions claiming that the recent 2024 election was manipulated to favor him.

One particular rumor suggests that billionaire Elon Musk played a role in this alleged deception via his internet service, Starlink, claiming it was used to alter vote counts through equipment like ballot tabulators. Starlink, part of Musk’s SpaceX enterprise, provides high-speed internet via satellites, extending even to the most remote regions.

Let’s examine the facts surrounding this claim.

CLAIM: Elon Musk allegedly employed Starlink to orchestrate a theft of the 2024 election for President-elect Donald Trump.

THE FACTS: Such assertions lack any evidence. Officials from various swing states have confirmed that their voting systems do not utilize Starlink and are not connected to the internet. Additionally, states have implemented multiple security protocols to guarantee the accuracy of vote counts, with experts noting that no significant issues were reported during the 2024 election.

David Becker, who is the founder and executive director of The Center for Election Innovation and Research, state in an email that, “It is simply not possible for Starlink to have been involved in hacking or altering the outcome of the US presidential election.” He continued by noting that this theory is reminiscent of past misinformation campaigns. Becker elaborated that the nearly 10,000 election jurisdictions in the country utilize various voting machines that are offline during voting and that most votes are recorded on paper, which are then hand-audited against the results produced by electronic tabulators.

“If anyone attempted to manipulate the machines to influence the election outcome, it would be detected through different measures, such as reconciling the number of registered voters with the votes cast, as well as subsequent audits,” he added.

In some jurisdictions, ballot scanners may transmit unofficial results using private mobile networks after the polls close, ensuring that all vote counts stored on memory cards are first removed. Officials who adopt this approach argue it allows for quicker reporting of unofficial results on election night. They emphasize that the paper records serve as a validation tool in post-election reviews and would be critical in the event of a recount. However, computer security experts caution that this practice introduces unnecessary risks.

Jen Easterly, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, stated on November 6 that there is “no evidence of any malicious activity that had a material impact on the security or integrity of our election infrastructure.”

Despite the absence of proof, numerous social media users have continued to assert that Starlink was potentially used to facilitate election fraud. One post on X claimed, “If Trump & Elon’s ‘little secret’ was to use Starlink in swing states to tally the votes & rig the election — an investigation & hand recount is crucial. Now.” This tweet garnered roughly 41,700 likes and shares by the next Tuesday. Another widely circulated post on X accused Musk of using Starlink to compromise elections, saying, “Are we seriously going to overlook what transpired and allow the most destructive individuals among us to govern?”

Election officials from key swing states such as North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania confirmed, in conversations with media, that their voting equipment is never connected to the internet, with some of these mandates enshrined in state laws.

“Satellite-based internet systems were not utilized for tabulating or uploading vote counts in North Carolina,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesperson for the North Carolina State Board of Elections. He reiterated that their tabulated results are encrypted to prevent modifications during transmission. “Moreover, tabulators and ballot-marking devices are strictly prohibited from accessing the internet in North Carolina.”

The state mandates that its voting systems remain disconnected from networks, including any and all internet connections, as a matter of law. Gannon further asserted that there is “no evidence of anyone altering vote counts” and urged individuals to refrain from sharing misinformation.

Mike Hassinger, speaking for the Georgia secretary of state’s office, referred to the claims circulating online as “absolutely conspiratorial nonsense.” He stated, “We do not use Starlink equipment for any segment of our elections, and this has always been the case.” He clarified that Georgia’s election systems are?air-gapped?and devoid of internet connections, ensuring that any vote tally software or memory cards cannot be tampered with externally. Foundation protocols safeguard the transport of memory cards in secured bags with tamper-evident seals, and a documented chain of custody tracks their movement to the central election office for tallying.

Matt Heckel from the Pennsylvania Department of State confirmed in an email that “Counties do not use Starlink to send unofficial or official election results. No voting systems in Pennsylvania ever connect to the internet.”

In Arizona, a pilot program applied in some counties aimed at enhancing connectivity for underserved areas implemented Starlink systems for electronic pollbook synchronization; however, the state’s election gear remains air-gapped as part of extensive security measures.

Other states, including Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, maintain rigorous steps to ensure the integrity of their election processes.

Some online content highlighted a news report where the registrar of voters in Tulare County, California, mentioned that Starlink had improved internet connectivity at polling sites this year. However, Stephanie Hill, a systems and procedures analyst, clarified that “this connection is strictly for voter check-in purposes and has no role in the voting system.” Like North Carolina, California also forbids its voting equipment from being online.

Currently, Trump leads Vice President Kamala Harris in the Tulare County vote count at 60%. Pamela Smith, president and CEO of Verified Voting, expressed her disbelief regarding the idea of Starlink being misappropriated to rig the election. She stated, “While Starlink was utilized for connectivity in various jurisdictions for electronic poll books in this election, neither Starlink nor any other communication network influences the vote counting process. Our elections generate substantial physical evidence, and a satellite system like Starlink cannot negate that.”