Video claiming to show Jimmy Carter voting in presidential election actually filmed at birthday party
Video in fact showed the former president celebrating his 100th birthday at his home in Plains, Georgia
CLAIM
A video widely shared across multiple social media platforms in October 2024 claimed to show former U.S. president Jimmy Carter on the first day of early voting in Georgia. A caption to the video added that his family had declared he was voting for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
BACKGROUND
A Facebook post from October 15 claimed to show former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at a polling location in Georgia on the first day of early voting. The caption claimed that the 100-year-old’s family had confirmed he was voting for Kamala Harris.
The video was posted by American news anchor and political commentator Christina Aguayo, who has 109,000 followers on Facebook.
“#BreakingNews: Jimmy Carter has made it to the first day of Georgia early voting. His family declared he will vote for Harris,” Aguayo said in the caption.
The video shows the former president in a wheelchair on a lawn, surrounded by several other people.
Conservative political activist Ryan Fournier also posted the links to the video on both Instagram and X.
Screenshots from the video were posted on other accounts including one that claimed his family committed “voter fraud.”
Another account described it as “elder abuse.”
METHOD
Establishing a clear timeline was the first step in determining whether the video showed Carter about to vote. When was the first day of early voting in Georgia? According to the Georgia government website, early voting began on October 15, and the Carter Center — an NGO founded by the former president in 1982 — confirmed that Carter voted by mail on October 16.
This rules out the possibility that videos posted before October 15 could show the former president about to cast his vote. However, versions of the video did provide a clue to its origin with a “CBS News Exclusive” logo in the corner.
Although the CBS logo was not visible in Christina Aguayo’s post on October 15, the clip appeared to be the same.
Using Google to search for “Jimmy Carter” and “CBS Exclusive” led us to a video posted on Facebook by CBS News on October 1, accompanied by the caption: “Former President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends in his backyard in Plains, Georgia. CBS News was there as he was wheeled outside, beneath the shade of his trees, to witness a military flyover with four fighter jets.” The CBS video was the same used in the numerous social media posts.
This not only confirmed the source of the video but also ruled out the possibility that it showed Carter voting as early voting in Georgia would not get underway f0r another two weeks.
The Carter Center did not confirm who the former president voted for. However US outlets, including the New York Times, reported that his family had said he had voted for Harris.
RATING
The captions claiming that Jimmy Carter had cast his vote in the US presidential elections were incorrect. The video in fact showed the former president celebrating his 100th birthday at his home in Plains, Georgia on October 1.
SOURCES
Facebook.com – Christina Aguayo News Jimmy Carter has made it to the first day of Georgia early voting. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Facebook.com – Kirstin Davidson-Norwood Jimmy Carters family just committed voter fraud. Accessed October 23, 2024.
Facebook.com Michael Mosack So… we might call this voter fraud… maybe elder abuse…Accessed October 23, 2024.
Instagram.com – Ryan Fournier The dude looks dead, and Democrats are heralding this. Accessed October 23, 2024.
X.com – The Carter Center Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter voted by mail on Oct. 16, Accessed October 23, 2024.
Georgia.gov – Georgia General Election 2024 Accessed October 23, 2024.
Facebook.com – CBS News Former President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends Accessed October 23, 2024.
Blinder, A. (2024). Jimmy Carter Casts His Ballot for Harris in Georgia. The New York Times. [online] 16 Oct. [Accessed 23 Oct. 2024].