Why the GOP's voter fraud theories in California don't make sense | CNN Politics
cnn.com
When facts don't fit the narrative, motivated reasoning kicks in — and California's election results are the latest stress test for why voter fraud theories keep defying evidence.
Motivated ReasoningIllusory Truth EffectEpistemic ClosureSocial Identity Theory
Theory Briefing
- A surge of GOP voter fraud claims in California mirrors the post-2020 election denial wave, despite lacking supporting evidence.
- Motivated reasoning theory explains why believers selectively interpret ambiguous data to confirm pre-existing fraud suspicions.
- Repeating unfounded claims publicly reinforces them as social facts — a classic case of the illusory truth effect at work.