Georgia's top election official warns of fake online video

The video purports to show a Haitian immigrant claiming to have voted.

Last Updated: November 1, 2024, 8:03 AM EDT

With five days until Election Day, Kamala Harris attacked Donald Trump for saying Wednesday night in Wisconsin that, against his advisers' advice, he is going to keep saying he will "protect the women" "whether the women like it or not."

Both candidates continued their whirlwind campaigns in the West.

    Oct 31, 11:41 pm

    More than 65 million Americans have voted early

    As of 11:40 p.m. ET on Thursday, more than 65 million Americans have voted early, according to the Election Lab at the University of Florida.

    Of the early ballots cast, 34,277,250 were in person and 30,685,094 were returned by mail.

    An early voting sign is seen outside of a polling station, Oct. 31, 2024, in Stockbridge, Ga.
    Jason Allen/AP

    Oct 31, 2024, 9:12 PM EDT

    Georgia's top election official warns of fake online video: 'Likely foreign interference'

    With just days until the election, Georgia's top election official warned Thursday that a fake video circulating online claiming to show voter fraud in the state is "likely foreign interference attempting to show discord and chaos on the eve of the election."

    The video circulating on social media, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, purports to show a Haitian immigrant claiming to have voted multiple times with multiple state IDs.

    "This is false," Raffensperger said of the video, calling it "targeted disinformation."

    Raffensperger's statement said law enforcement is investigating, and added it is "likely" a product of Russian troll farms. Raffensperger called on social media companies to take the video down -- and specifically called out Elon Musk by name.

    "As Americans, we can’t let our enemies use lies to divide us and undermine our faith in our institutions -- or each other," he said.

    Oct 31, 2024, 8:38 PM EDT

    Obama stops by phone bank with Dem. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks

    Former President Barack Obama joined Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic candidate for Maryland's Senate seat, at a phone banking session on Thursday, according to the Alsobrooks campaign.

    The visit comes just days before the general election, and on the last day of early voting in Maryland, where Alsobrooks' Republican opponent is the state's former governor Larry Hogan.

    PHOTO: US-NEWS-MDSENATE-ALSOBROOKS-OBAMA-BZ
    Former President Barack Obama, right, speaks with Ian Richards, 10, of D.C., left, and his mother Jane Schmitz as Angela Alsobrooks looks on during a campaign surprise visit by the President. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
    Baltimore Sun/TNS

    While the race has been seen as competitive even in relatively blue Maryland, Alsobrooks has held a lead in polling.

    “President Obama knows what is at stake in this election,” Alsobrooks said in a press release. "And I am so grateful he’s joined our phonebank today to urge voters to get out and vote to defend our Democratic Senate Majority in order to protect our freedoms, fight for our futures, and ensure our families can thrive."

    Oct 31, 2024, 8:31 PM EDT

    Voting organization must stop threatening to expose Maryland's non-voters, AG says

    Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Voter Information/Voter Participation Center, alleging that it has been threatening to publicly expose registered voters who don’t vote in this year's election.

    Brown has requested that the organization refrain from publishing voter information or attempting to embarrass non-voters.

    In the cease-and-desist letter, he wrote, "Voting is among the most important rights that Marylanders have. Any action that intimidates prospective voters, especially on the eve of such a consequential election, will not be tolerated."

    "These unnerving letters are unacceptable, and Maryland voters should know that their decision to vote this Election Day is entirely theirs to make," he continued.

    The organization mass-mailed letters to Maryland residents that stated, "We’re sending this mailing to you and to your neighbors to share who does and does not vote in an effort to promote election participation. While we have hidden the name and street number of your neighbors to protect privacy, these are true voting records."

    "We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined our neighbors in voting," the organization's letters said.

    Oct 31, 2024, 7:27 PM EDT

    Indiana GOP blocks expanded early vote hours in largest county

    As Indiana surpasses 1 million early voters this election, state Republicans have blocked the expansion of early voting in one of the state's biggest counties.

    The Marion County Election Board blocked a motion Thursday to keep early voting locations open two hours longer on Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to long lines throughout the county.

    Marion County, the state’s most populous county, is home to Indiana’s capital.

    With long lines across the state, Indiana Democrats told ABC News they had hoped voters would have more time to vote this weekend.

    "Republicans in Indiana are becoming experts at disenfranchising voters," Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said. “We’ve seen long lines in Indianapolis and across the state because Hoosiers are excited to vote in this election."

    "This is something voters want. They do not want to wait in lines, or can’t afford to, even in the best weather," he added.

    -ABC News' Beatrice Peterson