The FBI is launching an investigation into reports that voters received automated phone calls telling them they should delay their vote until tomorrow.
Fake messages urging people to stay at home because of long queues were reported in several states.
Dana Nessel, the Attorney General of Michigan, a swing state, said she received reports of automated calls to residents that falsely claimed people should vote after polling stations closed.
Earlier on Tuesday, The National reported people were flocking to vote in the state.
The Washington Post reported that the FBI had begun an inquiry in Michigan after millions of calls were received across the US.
Audio of the calls features a synthetic female voice saying: “Hello. This is just a test call. Time to stay home. Stay safe and stay home.”
A senior Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency official described it as “a voter-intimidation, voter-suppression tactic”.
The Attorney General for New York, Letitia James, said her office was also investigating the issue.
“Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Ms James said.
“Attempts to hinder voters from exercising their right to cast their ballots are disheartening, disturbing and wrong. What’s more is that it is illegal and it will not be tolerated.”
The calls were also reported in Kansas, where the Secretary of State posted a message on Facebook urging people to still vote.
“We are receiving reports of robocalls telling voters to stay home,” Scott Schwab wrote.
“Disregard these calls. If you have not already voted, today is the day.”
The US public appears to have heeded his advice with queues of voters snaking round polling stations throughout Tuesday.
More electoral skulduggery
Further election mischief emerged after Republican activists shared an Instagram story of someone claiming to be an election worker throwing out ballots from Donald Trump supporters in Erie county, Pennsylvania.
The post was a hoax, a spokeswoman for Erie county said . “He is not one of our poll workers and there is no one with that name registered to vote in Erie PA,” Amy Dalessandro, the election co-ordinator, said.
A Trump supporter who shared the image had her account temporarily limited and was unable to post for violating rules against posting misleading information about voting.
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Lorraine Crawford puts vote signs as the sun rises the Main Street Branch Library vote centre in Huntington Beach, California. AFP -
A group of kids who support presidential candidate Joe Biden hold signs on the sidewalk in front of a polling place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump rally in front of a poll station at Coral Gable Branch Public Library in Miami, Florida. AFP -
Demonstrators marching for voting rights pass supporters of US President Donald Trump carrying Confederate flags in Graham, North Carolina, US. Reuters -
A person watches a screen showing early voting results at Black Lives Matter Plaza on in Washington DC. AFP -
A worker of the Miami-Dade County Elections Department carries U.S. Postal Service trays with mail-in ballots in them in Miami, Florida. Reuters -
Electoral workers count ballots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters -
Poll workers sort ballots at the Franklin County Board of Elections in Columbus, Ohio. Reuters -
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden visits The Warehouse for teens by teens in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP -
Steph Smith drops off her ballot for the US presidential election in Rollinsville, Colorado. AFP -
Voters line up at the John F. Kennedy Library, a Miami-Dade County polling station, during the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Miami, Florida. Reuters -
A supporter of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden uses a megaphone near the White House during Election Day in Washington. Reuters -
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden rallies supporters in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia. Getty Images -
US President Donald Trump speaks as he visits his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. AFP -
Children entertain themselves while their mother and grandmother vote at a polling location in Cleveland Ohio. EPA -
Campaign workers applaud as President Donald Trump visits his campaign headquarters in Arlington. AFP -
Police block the path of a truck carrying a live band on a closed street in Washington. Reuters -
A television correspondent reports outside the White House on Election Day in Washington. Reuters -
A demonstrator going by the name Azul Azul walks around with a painted face outside the White House in Washington. AP Photo -
Joe Biden supporters wave to pedestrians from a school bus in Houston, Texas. AFP -
Voters fill out their ballots at the Lenox, Massachusetts, Town Hall. AP PHOTO -
Denise Pumphrey shouts "first-time voter" at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville. AP Photo -
A person dressed in a 'Vote' superhero costume holds a campaign sign for Joe Biden outside a polling location in Atlanta, Georgia. Bloomberg -
Police officers detain a man as people gather to demonstrate at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. Reuters
