Just under a week before the 2024 general election, a local Pennsylvania ABC affiliate, WNEP-TV, created controversy by airing supposed “results” from the state’s presidential race.
The premature figures, which aired Sunday evening during coverage of the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, showed Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris winning the state by a margin of 52% to 47%, with 100% of precincts allegedly reporting.
WNEP quickly dismissed the incident as a “test run,” claiming that the numbers displayed were not real results but a technical exercise. However, many viewers weren’t buying the explanation.
WATCH:
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WNEP said in a statement:
“Those numbers should not have appeared on the screen, and it was an error by WNEP that they did. The numbers seen on the screen were randomly generated test results sent out to help news organizations make sure their equipment is working properly in advance of election night. The numbers were not reflective of any actual vote count.”
“Pennsylvania law does not allow mail-in ballots to be taken out of their envelopes until 7:00 a.m. on Election Day, and no votes of any kind will be counted in Pennsylvania until after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. WNEP regrets the error and apologizes for any confusion. We have taken steps to ensure that it does not happen again.”
Social media lit up shortly after the broadcast, with many questioning the timing and intent of the so-called “test.”
Political commentator Chuck Callesto tweeted, “Ask yourself why ABC put up 2024 election results today showing a Kamala victory.. They called it a test… .”
Ask yourself why ABC put up 2024 election results today showing a Kamala victory..
They called it a test… pic.twitter.com/rRP7ETHbg3
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 30, 2024
Another account, @akafacehots, pointed out, “They did this in Arizona in the 2022 mid-term and they did it in the 2020 election.. NO WAY IN HELL this is just a mistake every time.”
ABC just put up the “Presidential election results on air.” THEY DO THIS EVERY SINGLE ELECTION.. They did this in Arizona in the 2022 mid-term and they did it in the 2020 election.. NO WAY IN HELL this is just a mistake everytime. pic.twitter.com/k3V5YRX65E
— aka (@akafacehots) October 30, 2024
ABC accidentally airs election results “test” showing Kamala winning Pennsylvania by 5% during Formula 1 race.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/fioBLz2TMJ
— AF Post (@AFpost) October 30, 2024
RIGGED: ABC premptively airs Election Results showing Harris winning PENNSYLVANIA 52%-47% with 100% reporting pic.twitter.com/95864BWTVI
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) October 30, 2024
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