A television station in Pennsylvania sparked a flood of conspiracy theories when it broadcast the results of the nationwide presidential election on a graphic, even though the election is just days away.

The mistake happened on Sunday, but it gained momentum on Wednesday as conservative media outlets, social media skeptics and conspiracy theorists caught wind of it, with many claiming it was “proof” that the election was rigged.

The breakdown occurred during the broadcast of a Formula 1 race on the channel. Viewers then saw a graphic at the bottom of the screen showing Vice President Kamala Harris winning Pennsylvania with 52%, compared to former President Donald Trump's 47%. This sparked confusion and concern, and even X chairman Elon Musk chimed in, calling it a Freudian slip.

However, the broadcaster responsible says the error was simply a test that went on air by mistake and that there is no evidence of fraud.

In a statement, WNEP-TV says the numbers are “randomly generated test results designed to help news organizations ensure their equipment is working properly before election night.” WNEP said it “regrets the error and apologizes for any confusion.” It said it has taken steps to ensure the error is not repeated.

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WNEP-TV also pointed out that it would not have had access to the vote counts anyway because Pennsylvania law does not allow mail-in ballots to be removed from their envelopes before 7 a.m. on Election Day. Votes can be cast until after the polls close at 8 p.m Clock can be counted

This error is also not unprecedented. A television station in Detroit made a similar mistake back in 2020, and in 2022 it occurred in Arizona.

Nevertheless, the error is being portrayed without evidence, primarily by Trump and his allies, as “proof” of election fraud and misconduct. Many of the former president's supporters also pointed out that the Pennsylvania station is an ABC-affiliated station, as they have often criticized the friendship between Harris and Dana Walden, a Disney Entertainment executive who oversees ABC News. However, the error only aired in the local market and was unrelated to Disney ABC News.

In the weeks and days leading up to the election, officials across the country had their hands full combating this disinformation in this way. However, they insist that the integrity of the electoral system in this country is intact despite these isolated cases.