Internet appalled as fake Joe Biden robocall tells New Hampshire Democrats not to vote on Tuesday's primary

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: A robocall impersonating US President Joe Biden surfaced in New Hampshire on Sunday, January 21, urging Democratic voters not to participate in Tuesday's primary.

This has raised concerns about potential misinformation, as well as voter suppression tactics being employed ahead of the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary.

The phone message on the robocall starts by saying, "What a bunch of malarkey," repeating one of Biden's favorite phrases.

"Voting this Tuesday only enables Republicans in their quest to elect Donald Trump again," the voice in the call said, adding. "Your vote makes a difference this November, not this Tuesday."

The calls included Kathy Sullivan's personal cell phone number. Sullivan is the former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party and the state’s ballot law commissioner for New Hampshire.

Sullivan demanded an investigation, labeling the robocall an attempt at election meddling.

What do the authorities say?

The audio of the call was first reported by NBC News, although it is unclear how many people have actually received the robocall.

The White House clarified on Monday, January 22, that it has been established that the call was not recorded by President Joe Biden and that the entire incident underscores the difficulties that rapidly changing technologies present, particularly in the run-up to the presidential election in November.

According to Reuters, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in Washington, "The president has been clear that there are risks associated with deep fakes. Fake images and misinformation can be exacerbated by emerging technologies.”

The New Hampshire Attorney General, John Formella, stated that his Office’s Election Law unit is investigating what he said to be an apparent "unlawful attempt to disrupt the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and to suppress New Hampshire voters."

President Joe Biden's campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, stated that the call was "disinformation" and an active effort to suppress voting.

Per CBS News, the New Hampshire State Justice Department put out a statement immediately following the incident, that read, "Although the voice in the robocall sounds like the voice of President Biden, this message appears to be artificially generated based on initial indications."

“The message appears to have been “spoofed” to falsely show that it had been sent by the treasurer of a political committee that has been supporting the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary write-in efforts for President Biden. The message’s content directed recipients who wished to be removed from a calling list to call the number belonging to this person,” the official statement continued.

The New Hampshire Justice Department advised the state's voters to neglect the message and explained, "Voting in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election does not preclude a voter from additionally voting in the November General Election."

Internet appalled by Joe Biden robocall

People on X expressed their concern and shock at the prospect of the fake call bamboozling voters ahead of the Granite State's crucial primary on Tuesday, January 23.

One X user remarked, "Sounds like another unsolved case by the feds!"

Another quipped, "Nikki Haley will get more Democrat votes Tuesday in New Hampshire than Joe Biden will."

Someone else said, "I'm concerned. This is problematic. It raises the issues of misdismalinformation, and black voter suppression. It's definitely Russian. Nothing like this has ever happened. The FBI and CIA should look into this immediately. Because people who should be voting will get a robocall from a candidate telling them not to vote, and definitely obey it."

One user wrote, "Concerns? I think we’re well past that. Why is this legal in any state?"

Another remarked, "This is a disgusting stunt, and I sincerely hope the DOJ will find out who is responsible and hold them accountable!"

Someone else tweeted, "This should be automatic prison sentences for all involved in order to send a clear message."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.