As campaigning intensifies ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, the tactics used to mislead voters are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot. Based on our monitoring work, here are five patterns we expect to see more of.

1. Recycled and miscaptioned imagery

Old photographs and videos, often from unrelated events or other countries, are recirculated with new captions designed to provoke. The visual feels like evidence, even when the context is entirely false.

2. Coordinated local-language campaigns

Disinformation increasingly moves in languages other than English, making it harder for national fact-checkers to detect and slower to debunk.

3. Synthetic audio and video

AI-generated clips of public figures saying things they never said are cheap to produce and emotionally persuasive, particularly when shared in closed messaging groups.

4. Hyper-local rumour seeding

False claims about specific wards, candidates, or voting stations spread quickly because they feel personal and are difficult to verify at scale.

5. Trust erosion as a goal in itself

Some campaigns are not trying to make you believe a specific lie. They are trying to make you believe nothing at all.

Recognising these patterns is the first line of defence. When something makes you feel certain and outraged at the same time, slow down and check.