We’re decoding election mailers and ads for disinformation. Here’s how you can help.
UPDATE: You can use the Election Ad Decoder here.
Facebook ads. WhatsApp messages. Campaign mailers. No matter where you’re getting your information on voting, you’re probably being bombarded as Election Day nears.
Sometimes you’ll see things that make sense. Other times you’ll find things that are just plain confusing. You may even come across disinformation from bad actors meant to manipulate you.
Whatever you’re seeing, we want to review it.
Over the next few weeks, the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald will build and maintain the Election Ad Decoder, a searchable database of political ads and solicitations — in any language — sent to South Floridians via mail, phone calls and social media leading up to Nov. 3. Our reporters will then dig into who’s bankrolling these political ads — plus their price tags — and analyze whether they contain false or misleading information about voting and the upcoming election.
If the ads ask for donations, we’ll tell you where your money will go — and if the group is being transparent. If the ad provides information on where and how to vote, we’ll tell you if it’s right so that you can make sure your vote counts. We’ll also flag ads that promote debunked conspiracy theories, use doctored or manipulated images or contain hate speech.
But we can’t possibly find them all. That’s where you come in.
Have you seen an election flyer, a social media ad or a campaign soliciting donations? Send it our way by filling out the confidential questionnaire below and uploading any screenshots, recordings or PDFs that could help us out. We’ll then follow up with you if we have any questions about your submission and keep you looped in on the status of our database and reporting.
You can also send us ads you see by texting them to our team at (305) 396-1481, and we’ll send you SMS updates about the project as it develops. And if you have any questions or want to speak to a reporter, feel free to shoot us an email at ElectionAdDecoder@miamiherald.com. We’ll be in touch soon.
Translation by Oscar Diaz.
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 8:00 AM.
