Joliet League of Women Voters campaign educates voters on how to spot misinformation

As we get closer to the Nov. 5 general election, social media and various media outlets are bombarding the public with information about candidates – and the voting process itself – which has left many confused and unsure of exactly what is fact and what is fiction.

The concern over the proliferation and dissemination of misinformation and disinformation was so great that the League of Women Voters of Illinois, a nonpartisan nonprofit, established the Misinformation and Disinformation Task Force earlier this year.

The task force’s goal is to minimize the influence of false information on the election through education and awareness and, on a long-term level, achieve a more informed and resilient society.

Barb Laimins, a longtime member of the League of Women Voters of Illinois who was asked to co-chair the group, said misinformation and disinformation “could result in a significant threat to our American democratic processes, social cohesion and individual decision-making.”

The retired high school civics teacher, who spoke to about 25 residents who attended the first official presentation of the recently formed Greater Joliet League of Women Voters at the Joliet Croatian Cultural Club, said, “We don’t all operate from the same facts anymore, and that promotes division.”

The division has grown so much that Laimins said 1 out of 4 people have stopped talking to friends or family members because of political disagreements.

“We don’t all operate from the same facts anymore, and that promotes division.”

—   Barb Laimins, member of the League of Women Voters of Illinois

One reason for this, she said, is people don’t want to engage with others who get their news from different sources.

“We have siloed ourselves with like-minded thinkers, and we only read things we already agree with,” Laimins said, noting that this, in turn creates an “us versus them” scenario, and we have to figure out a way to stop that.

“One of the ways is to get accurate information, so we can all operate from the same facts,” she said. “We are hoping to educate people, and make them more careful about what they are sharing and what they are reading, and looking at things with a more critical eye so that any decisions they make are based on accurate information.”

To distinguish the two, she said, “misinformation is inadvertently sharing false information without the intent to harm,” while “disinformation is intentionally sharing false information.”

Laimins said that the often-used term “fake news” now is used in a broader sense to discredit any opposing viewpoints, cast doubt on political opponents, and discredit the credibility of some media organizations.

Disinformation is so damaging because it undermines the trust of government, media, sciences and even communities, she said.

Understanding, countering disinformation

Disinformation can take several forms.

Some can be presented as satire, which most of us can distinguish; however, it also can take more sinister forms, such as an imposter website of a genuine news source, Laimins said.

It also can be manipulated, false or fabricated content, especially considering the use of artificial intelligence.

Laimins suggested that to decipher accurate information versus disinformation, individuals should develop healthy skepticism, but also verify sources, avoid confirmation bias, be open-minded and be adaptable to changing information.

Based on our “click behavior” and search history, many of us unintentionally live in “filter bubbles” created by social media algorithms that only confirm what we already believe, Laimins said, suggesting that people read past the headlines and be wary of emotionally charged language.

She also suggested reading from different news sources, which she called lateral reading.

Laimins said individuals should resist the urge to share unverified information and avoid engaging in social media arguments.

And finally, do not cut off that relative who holds opposing views, she said.

“If you know someone who is sharing mis/disinformation, think about talking to them in private about the content they are sharing,” Laimins said. “It can be a tough conversation.”

Checking for accuracy

To check for information accuracy, Laimins suggested the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit created to ensure that all students are skilled in news literacy before high school graduation. The News Literacy Project developed a tool that tracks the topics and tactics of 2024 election information.

Another site she recommended is VerbaAI, which partnered with the League of Women Voters of Illinois to launch Election Facts Illinois, a nonpartisan, fact-checking source of election information.

About the new Joliet chapter

As the newest chapter in Illinois, the Greater Joliet League of Women Voters “came together pretty quickly” and does include several men – something the League has welcomed for 50 years, said Rita Slattery, one of the founding members.

Formed in April, the Joliet-area chapter joined more than 700 other Leagues around the country and is one of 41 in Illinois that is committed to registering new voters, promoting civic engagement, advocating for changes in legislation that will result in equitable solutions and civil rights protections, protecting voter rights, and creating opportunities for communities to discuss issues and shape solutions for the future.