In mid-November 2024, a rumor spread that there was a notable surge in Google searches for the phrase “change my vote” and similar following Donald Trump’s victory within the U.S. presidential election. This spike allegedly indicated a way of voter regret amongst those that solid their ballots for Trump.
The declare spread on social media platforms together with X (previously Twitter), Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. Related claims additionally appeared in several information articles. For example, a Nov. 13, 2024, Newsweek article on the subject claimed “queries about ‘methods to change my vote’ spiked on the morning of Election Day.”
What Google Traits Information Says
Social media posts on the subject usually included screenshots from Google Traits, a software that analyzes the relative reputation of search phrases over a specified interval. It assigns a price from 0 to 100 to point the search curiosity for a time period, the place 100 represents the height reputation throughout the chosen timeframe.
On Nov. 20, 2024, we carried out a Google Traits search for 3 queries talked about most frequently in social media posts (for the previous 30 days):
- methods to change my vote;
- change my vote;
- can i alter my vote.
Under you’ll be able to see the results, indicating there was a big surge on Election Day, in addition to on Nov. 13, 2024:
(Google Traits)
On Nov. 14, 2024, one X consumer noted “there could also be some stage of Streisand impact occurring right here as a result of individuals are wanting it as much as examine the declare that it is trending,” referring to a phenomenon through which an try to attract consideration away from one thing solely serves to draw extra consideration to it.
Moreover, all-time information revealed that the spike in searches for the talked about phrases occurred in October 2020.
(Google Traits)
Certainly, Trump himself tweeted in late October 2020: “Strongly Trending (Google) since instantly after the second debate is CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE? This refers altering it to me.”
Google Traits Does not Equal ‘Trending’
One other rumor that circulated on social media claimed searches for phrases like “can I modify my vote” had been trending on Google search. Nonetheless, it is essential to make clear that on this case the phrase “trending on Google” could be deceptive.
Google Traits, which exhibits relative search curiosity over time, could be confused with the “Trending Now” characteristic. The latter highlights a curated collection of fashionable matters and queries in actual time, based mostly on absolute search quantity and different contextual components. Simply because a time period sees a spike in Google Traits information would not essentially imply it seems within the “Trending Now” part, as the 2 instruments serve totally different functions.
Unprecedented Improve in Searches?
“Individuals already appear to be regretting their vote for Trump. Google searches for ‘Can I modify my vote’ have spiked for the reason that election,” wrote one X consumer on Nov. 13, 2024, attaching a screenshot that allegedly confirmed a 700% improve in searches for the question “can I modify my vote.”
(X consumer @krassenstein)
This declare additionally gained traction on TikTok. In the meantime, on Threads, one other consumer shared a screenshot allegedly displaying a 950% improve for a similar search time period.
When trying to find a time period on Google Traits, customers can view a “associated queries” part on the backside of the web page. Rising search phrases, like those talked about above, are those who have skilled probably the most important progress in search quantity throughout a particular timeframe in comparison with the earlier interval. The odds proven, comparable to 700% or 950%, point out relative progress and never absolute search volumes.
Given the character of how the “associated queries” characteristic works, it’s tough to independently confirm info within the screenshots circulating on social media with out realizing after they had been captured. The info displayed on Google Traits is dynamic, which means outcomes can change relying on when a search is carried out, the chosen question, timeframe, and different variables. Consequently, the screenshots possible mirror searches carried out at totally different instances.
Purple vs. Blue States
One other set of claims centered on states that largely voted Republican, alleging a big surge in Google searches originating from these areas. One Reddit publish stated, “Of us In Purple States Google Searched ‘How To Change My Vote’ In Droves After Trump’s Victory.”
When information from the previous 30 days, search outcomes for the queries “change my vote,” “how to change my vote,” and “can I to change my vote” indicated they gained reputation each in states that voted Republican and Democratic.
Nonetheless, as famous earlier, the interpretation of search reputation in every state is extremely depending on the timeframe chosen for evaluation in Google Traits, as search curiosity can change considerably over time.
