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It’s Election Day(s) for Lie of the Year

By April Hunt
December 11, 2015

And the award, for the most significant falsehood or exaggeration of the past 12 months, goes to …

We will let you know later this month, what the Lie of the Year and Readers’ Choice winners are.

The competition is tough, as it always is. Get caught up on our 11 finalists, as chosen by our editors and reporters, and link to our survey so you can vote for your favorite. We accept write-ins.

We also have a mobile-friendly version of this survey

 

 

Our Sources

See individual reports.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by April Hunt
Viral image
stated on November 17, 2015 in a viral meme on social media:
While Americans pray for Paris, the government has acted on mandatory national vaccinations.
Pants on Fire!
Tim Echols
stated on October 26, 2015 in an opinion piece in a trade magazine:
"Our state has no major rivers to produce big hydropower."
Mostly True
Reader
stated on October 24, 2015 in a Tweet to PolitiFact Georgia:
"How is a misogynist bigot of epic proportions (like U.S. Rep. Steven Smith) allowed to serve?"
Pants on Fire!
Slice & Pint brewpub
stated on September 24, 2015 in the fall menu:
Brewpubs can't sell growlers of their beer to customers.  
True
Georgia Voice
stated on September 17, 2015 in a news story:
No openly gay man has ever been elected to the Georgia Legislature.
True
Matthew Charles Cardinale
stated on September 13, 2015 in an opinion piece in the Saporta Report:
Tens of thousands of Atlanta households pay more than 30 percent of their income towards rent.
True
Ben Carson
stated on September 16, 2015 in the second GOP debate:
There are a "multitude" of vaccines that do not prevent deadly and crippling diseases.
False
Internet commenters
stated on September 10, 2015 in comments on various local blogs:
Annexation would lead to overcrowding at Decatur’s city schools.
False
E. Frank Stephenson
stated on August 14, 2015 in a Georgia Public Policy Foundation blog post:
"Contrary to media reports, Georgia’s gas tax change led to no price increase at the pump."
Half-True

It’s Election Day(s) for Lie of the Year

Jon Ossoff
stated on June 27, 2026 in a campaign speech:









Donald Trump
stated on June 23, 2026 in a speech in Macungie, Pennsylvania:

David Jolly
stated on June 11, 2026 in a speech:

Marsha Blackburn
stated on June 19, 2026 in an X post:





Steve Robinson
stated on June 5, 2026 in Fox News “The Ingraham Angle”:

Josh Hokit
stated on June 14, 2026 in a UFC event at the White House:


Donald Trump
stated on May 22, 2026 in remarks in Suffern, New York: