“Twitter is working hard to increase informed participation in democratic processes around the world,” Twitter Vice President for Public Policy for the United States Jessica Herrera-Flanigan said in a statement. “Ahead of the US election in 2020, we are committed to supporting every empowered person to register and vote through partnerships, tools and new policies that emphasize all available voting options, including: by post and early voting. “
Policy under fire: Twitter has drawn plaudits from Democrats and rebels from Trump and other Republicans for adding labels to some of the president’s tweets, in which he claimed that emails for the upcoming election are likely to be highly fraudulent. Independent fact-checkers have disputed these allegations, as have some top officials in the Trump administration.
But Twitter has refused to add labels to some other Trump tweets targeting mail-in voting rights, including a May 24 post in which the President wrote: “The United States cannot have all Mail In Ballots. It will be the largest Rigged election in history. People extract them from mailboxes, print thousands of counterfeits and ‘force’ people to sign. Also enter names. Some absent OK, if necessary. Try using Covid for this scam! ”
The apparent differences have caused confusion and some criticism from links about the company’s handling of incorrect information.
What follows: Twitter said users can expect the platform to roll out its new election-related policies, tools and resources next month.
The company said the planned focus on mail-in and early voting is aimed at addressing the challenges posed by holding an election during the historic Covid-19 pandemic. That push will also include expanding the voice tools and resources the company provides to its users.
