Michelle Obama: ‘Don’t listen to people who will say that somehow voting is rigged’

Former first lady Michelle Obama is encouraging young voters to cast their ballots this November, telling them not to be discouraged or think their vote doesn’t count.

“Voting is easy. It is something that we can do. Don’t listen to people who will say that somehow voting is rigged and your vote will get lost and it won’t be counted. That is not true,” Obama said during an Instagram Live event with actress Zendaya on Tuesday.

The event, part of Obama’s voter registration and engagement organization When We All Vote, included big names discussing the presidential election and other political issues. 

During the conversation, which took place on National Voter Registration Day, Obama specifically dismissed “conspiracy theories” about the upcoming election.

“I don’t want people to be discouraged by those conspiracy theories that are being peddled out there about the validity of our election process because it’s just not true,” Obama said, in an apparent swing at President Trump, who has suggested without evidence that mail-in ballots will lead to widespread voter fraud and warned the election will be “rigged.”

In August, Trump said the only way he’d lose in November is if the election were rigged.

“We have to win the election. We can’t play games. Go out and vote. Do those beautiful absentee ballots, or just make sure your vote gets counted. Make sure because the only way we’re going to lose this election is if the election is rigged,” Trump told supporters at an outdoor campaign event. “Remember that. It’s the only way we’re going to lose this election, so we have to be very careful.”

Obama has repeatedly encouraged Americans to vote this fall, appearing at multiple events to spur voter registration and back Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The former first lady has been working with local and federal officials to help boost voter participation.