Thread by @VICENews

NEW: It used to be that if you wanted to undermine an election in the US, you had to travel to Washington and storm the Capitol.

Now, thanks to a new digital platform, all it takes is a laptop and an internet connection. trib.al/siCRXSr

The platform is called Polaris Recount, and the “digital soldiers” that Michael Flynn has repeatedly called to arms can now simply sign up as volunteers to act as judge and jury over the validity of votes cast in the 2020 election. trib.al/siCRXSr

Launched in late November, the platform has seen signups “gaining exponentially” in recent weeks, according to the founder, who told VICE News that around 1,000 volunteers are now looking at digital images of ballots cast in New Mexico. trib.al/siCRXSr

“The people who start doing it, they become rabid, they become addictive,” Jeff O’Donnell, the Florida-based businessman who set up the system, told VICE News. trib.al/siCRXSr

O’Donnell says the platform is designed to be non-partisan and open to volunteers from across the political spectrum who seek to boost the transparency of elections in the U.S. But it’s been clear from the start where O’Donnell’s loyalties lie. trib.al/siCRXSr

His Telegram channel is filled with pro-Trump content and COVID denialism. In November, O’Donnell appeared on a live stream with conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell to discuss bogus election fraud claims. trib.al/siCRXSr

Like the bogus audit in Arizona and efforts to change voting laws, O’Donnell’s efforts are another effort to chip away at the integrity of elections by using unproven and amateur methods to falsely claim evidence of widespread election fraud. trib.al/siCRXSr

“They are seriously oversimplifying ballot counting, recounting and auditing and not taking any nuance to the process into consideration,” Michelle Shafer, a former spokesperson for voting machine company Hart Intercivic, told VICE News. trib.al/siCRXSr

Despite 14 months of empty allegations of widespread voter fraud with no evidence to back them up, when asked if he believes the election was stolen from Trump, O’Donnell told VICE News: “I think it’s likely… based on a whole bunch of numbers I’ve seen.” trib.al/siCRXSr

For more on this story, read here: trib.al/siCRXSr