Groups supporting former President Donald Trump have recently organized efforts on Telegram to mobilize poll watchers in Democratic regions, aiming to challenge vote legitimacy. Some groups even posted images of armed men “defending their rights” to recruit others. Conspiracy theories circulated, suggesting that anything short of a Trump win would be a grave injustice warranting rebellion.

A message from an Ohio Proud Boys chapter warned, “The time is near when sitting on the sidelines won’t be an option. You’ll either join the resistance or submit to tyranny.” The Proud Boys, a far-right group linked to the January 6 Capitol events, used such rhetoric to galvanize supporters.

These communications, all on Telegram—a platform with close to a billion users—highlight potential Election Day disruptions. Unlike many social media apps, Telegram is a go-to for extremists, helping them turn online organization into real-world action.

The New York Times reviewed over a million Telegram messages across 50 channels with more than 500,000 users. The analysis revealed a large, coordinated effort to undermine confidence in the election, meddle with the voting process, and potentially contest the outcome. Many channels emerged after the 2020 election, signaling a growing movement against election results. Posts from “election integrity” groups across several states—such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan—spread disinformation, conspiracy theories, and violent imagery.

Over 4,000 posts encouraged followers to attend local election meetings, join protests, and donate money. Some channels even encouraged readiness for violence. For instance, a New Hampshire group urged questioning absentee ballot tallies directly with officials, while another in Georgia pushed for attendance at election board meetings to oppose absentee voting. In New Mexico, followers were told to observe voting stations with cameras and report any suspicious activity.

On Pennsylvania-focused groups, users were reminded that “If you’ve ever wondered ‘What can I do?,’ here’s your chance.”

Katherine Keneally, a former NYPD intelligence analyst, views these Telegram posts as an indication of real threats on Election Day. “Telegram is often critical for coordinating offline actions,” said Ms. Keneally, now with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a research firm monitoring Telegram. She noted that during a 2022 election-skeptics’ meeting in Montana, participants taught each other how to use Telegram as an organizing tool among radical groups.

Telegram’s spokesperson stated that it has increased content moderation ahead of the election and will cooperate with authorities to remove any illegal content that promotes violence or disruption to democratic processes.

Compared to 2020, Telegram’s influence has grown. Right-wing channels continuously post content about alleged voting irregularities, often claiming Democrats intend to rig the election. These posts, along with calls for monitoring polling stations, serve as direct appeals to act.

NYU’s Paul M. Barrett, deputy director of the Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, commented, “Other platforms might focus on rhetoric and trolling, but on Telegram, there’s often a real push to take action.”

Telegram’s “election integrity” movement includes channels dedicated to “auditing” the vote and amplifying unfounded claims, like assertions that Republicans are given faulty pens incompatible with voting machines. United Sovereign Americans, a self-described election integrity group, recruited members on a New York-based Telegram channel, claiming—without proof—massive voting “irregularities” that equate to election fraud. In Pennsylvania, another group offered compensation to election monitors willing to work in Democratic-leaning Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh.

A video shared by the People’s Audit, another Telegram channel, presented a scenario where the Department of Homeland Security supposedly used undocumented immigrants’ IDs to cast votes for the Democratic nominee—a claim baseless under U.S. law.

Posts casting doubt on election integrity found traction among groups like the Proud Boys, who favor Telegram after restrictions on other platforms. Their posts question election procedures, such as Michigan’s voter registration processes, and share incendiary content, including a video with a truck bearing a Confederate flag pursuing immigrant children. In response, Michael Loadenthal of the University of Cincinnati noted, “There’s a sense among these groups that they’re justified.”

Public recruitment posts from Proud Boys chapters have sought to leverage fears of election fraud to encourage violence. One image depicted an armed man with the caption, “Free men do not obey public servants,” and implied retaliations against “leftist Democrats.” is enough!” read a part of the post. “Be ready for anything and everything!”