The Election Was Even Weirder in VR

It quickly becomes apparent, right after Donald Trump secures a victory in Georgia, that I've made a huge error in judgment. I'm lounging on my couch at home, but my mind is filled with the image of a massive convention center buzzing with a vibrant mix of people resembling strange human-animal hybrids, most of whom have the voices of children. The news of Trump's win in this critical state—and his seemingly unstoppable march towards the presidency—has just been announced by a seated skeleton claiming to be from the UK. His only purpose for being here is to mingle with the Americans on this significant occasion.

As you might have figured out, this situation isn’t happening in the real world; it’s set in a virtual reality environment. I’ve chosen the rather unusual option of tracking one of the most significant elections of our era from an incredibly bizarre location—right in the heart of the metaverse.

The space featuring the welcoming British skeleton can be found in VRChat, a virtual reality platform. This service offers a vast, open environment filled with different user-created rooms to discover. Participants can design their own 3D avatars and engage with one another by joining groups and chatting with their voices. Unlike Meta's Horizon Worlds, which is restricted to their own VR equipment, VRChat is accessible to a broader range of users, supporting various devices including Meta headsets, Steam headsets, as well as computers and smartphones.

I’ve put on my Meta Quest 3S headset and joined a lively group of avatars to discuss the results of the 2024 US election. The space is called Election Night 2024, created by a user named AussieGuy92. This expansive virtual venue can accommodate up to 80 participants and is designed to resemble a realistic convention hall where campaign teams might gather for an election night viewing party. In the entrance area, there are posters for the Trump-Vance campaign and the Harris-Walz campaign, featuring cheerful images of their respective presidential candidates. Inside the main hall, there’s a large screen, rows of seating for attendees, and detailed maps showing each state’s electoral college votes. Additionally, outside, you can hop onto a virtual city bus that will transport you to a simulated version of the White House.

Several important aspects of this simulation go wrong right from the start. For one, AussieGuy92, the creator of this space, is often absent, leaving the dynamic features he could manage as our host inactive. Even though there’s a busy lineup of streaming videos and events advertised on the walls, none of that promised content appears on the screens in the room. The election map remains unchanged throughout the entire evening, stuck in a dull gray, which means attendees have to rely on their own efforts to gather and share information about the election results. I'm thankful for the skeleton who, despite not being able to vote in this election, is reading the results out loud from his phone.

"The odds are in his favor to win," the skeleton remarks at the start of the evening. "I really doubt that Kamala has any shot at winning."

There’s a moment of silence, and then another person inquires, “So does that mean that those who weren’t born in the U.S. need to return to their home countries?”

The scene in the room resembles a gathering from a virtual world like Second Life or Fortnite, but it’s been transformed by some bizarre, radioactive substance. I'm dressed up as a hot dog. My colleague, Kelly Bourdet, who first introduced me to that British skeleton, arrives as a cat in a space suit. There are plenty of people dressed like Donald Trump, numerous anime characters, and quite a few knights in shiny armor. Batman is casually hanging out. Wolverine is roaming the area, showing off his claws. A huge penguin sits by itself, gazing into a distant corner of the room while one of its flippers makes slight movements. Someone barges through as a life-sized, almost realistic Taco Bell drive-thru. Another person stomps around in a mech suit. Some are pretending to kiss, but most others are just loudly arguing, trolling, or using AI-generated voices of Donald Trump and Joe Biden to spout increasingly childish and often racist remarks.

VRChat is the hub of excitement in this virtual realm. (And by excitement, I mean complete mayhem.) However, I'm looking forward to transitioning from VRChat to Meta's Horizon Worlds to experience its atmosphere. After the constant noise of VRChat, the often quiet Horizon Worlds is surprisingly calming.

"We're looking forward to some fun tonight," says a community guide from Horizon, one of the friendly moderators who welcomes users and provides tips to newcomers in Horizon Central, the platform’s entry point.

A digital character greets you in Meta Horizon Worlds.

Past the main entrance, the metaverse created by Meta feels less vibrant, primarily because it lacks a substantial user community to cultivate a thriving political environment. For instance, a space in Horizon named Go Trump! usually remains empty whenever I check throughout the day. Even on the best days, Horizon Worlds can feel quite isolating, but there are glimpses of activity, especially on election night when the number of people fluctuates. You’ll experience stretches of quiet, interrupted only by the sound of a child zipping by with a virtual bubble gun. Then, out of nowhere, a group of people forms—mostly kids, along with some adults from different countries. Some engage in discussions about the election, while others simply observe in silence.

"We're attempting to avoid it, which is the reason we're here," a user shares with me.

From the beginning, technology has played a crucial role in this election period. The rise of generative AI has raised alarms about false information and exaggerated propaganda. Campaigns have also ventured into innovative platforms, such as the Harris-Walz-themed map in Fortnite.

The metaverse might not be fully prepared for election campaigns just yet, but it’s time for the political arena to start adapting to it. Despite the disorder and negative comments often seen during election nights, it quickly becomes evident that the atmosphere in virtual reality mirrors what’s happening in the real world.

A digital character observes the results of the election.

Support for Trump was significant in VRChat.

The location for the viewing gathering.

To start with, the virtual reality election spaces are predominantly male, a fact that will not surprise those familiar with the male-dominated political circles in the United States. The majority of individuals I come across in these digital environments appear to support Trump, and as the evening progresses, that disparity in support becomes even more pronounced as the chances of the former president’s reelection increase.

My coworker Kelly chats with someone wearing a black suit of armor that resembles Iron Man. The individual claims to be from Michigan and declares that the state is going for Trump long before any official news breaks. They mention knowing many people who back Trump, stating that Elon Musk’s support and messages on X played a significant role in boosting Trump's popularity.

Throughout the night, similar scenes unfold. Initially, the actual outcomes seem to collide with the surreal atmosphere of the Horizon World rooms. Individuals, cloaked in vibrant avatars, are shouting over one another, often resorting to outrageous and shocking comments just to elicit a reaction. As the evening progresses, the crowd begins to divide—one larger faction rallies behind Trump, lively and animated, while a smaller group supports Harris, appearing more serious and contemplative. Outside, some gather to exchange quiet conversations, calculating the remaining electoral votes.

“I overheard a kid exclaim while I was at MetDonalds, the simulated version of the famous fast-food restaurant in Horizon Worlds, ‘We’ll never see a woman president! We need to hold onto our American values!’”

"Let’s get rid of all the elderly white people in the U.S.," says a person with an avatar resembling the slinky dog from Toy Story. They then add to someone else, "Well, if Trump wins, I suppose you won’t have to be as concerned about gun violence at school."

Later, I see someone passionately support Trump’s policies, and then another individual dressed as a knight joins in, dramatically pretending to rub his nipples while making exaggerated moaning sounds. By the end of the evening, it begins to feel like the online realm is just as bizarre as the real world.

Further coverage by WIRED writer Kelly Bourdet.