A deceptive robocall, falsely impersonating President Biden, has emerged in New Hampshire, instructing Democrats to abstain from voting in the state’s Democratic primary. The fake call, which has raised alarms about misinformation and voter suppression, features a voice resembling Mr. Biden’s, advising Granite State Democrats to “save” their vote for the November general election instead of participating in the primary.
The recording suggests, “Voting this Tuesday only enables Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again. Your vote makes a difference this November, not this Tuesday.” The extent of the call’s circulation is currently unknown, though it was first brought to light by NBC News.
Aaron Jacobs, representing a grassroots group campaigning for a write-in vote for Mr. Biden in the primary, condemned the call as “deep fake disinformation designed to harm Joe Biden, suppress votes, and damage our democracy.” The matter has been referred to law enforcement for investigation.
The New Hampshire Justice Department, commenting on the authenticity of the call, stated that while the voice sounds like President Biden’s, the message appears to be artificially generated. They also indicated that the call seems to have been spoofed to appear as if it were sent by a political committee supporting the write-in efforts for President Biden in the primary. The Department emphasized that voting in the primary does not preclude participation in the November General Election and advised voters to disregard the robocall message. Its Election Law unit is investigating the incident.
Mr. Biden, not listed on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot, had requested the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to revise the early primary state schedule, elevating South Carolina and consequently removing New Hampshire’s status as the first presidential primary contest. In response, over 100 New Hampshire Democratic leaders initiated a campaign to encourage state Democrats to write-in Mr. Biden.
This DNC move barred candidates from campaigning or appearing on the New Hampshire ballot, with the stipulation that any violators would not receive delegates from the state. This left room for Democratic Primary challengers, including Rep. Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson, though Phillips’ campaign has denied any involvement in the Biden robocall.
The Trump campaign also denied any involvement, with a spokesperson asserting that they had no part in the calls.
