Zaheer Darbar – Entertainment Editor
Indian-American Politician Neil Makhija Wins Two Emmys for Voter Fraud Awareness Film: Indian-American politician Neil Makhija, currently serving as Montgomery County Commissioner in Pennsylvania, has won two Emmy Awards for co-producing a powerful short film aimed at debunking voter fraud myths in the United States.
The six-minute animated op-ed, titled “You’re Being Lied To About Voter Fraud. Here’s the Truth,” was published by The New York Times in October. It clinched Emmys in two categories: Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction in News, and Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design in Documentary.
Reacting to the win, Makhija posted on social media, “We won two Emmys! I’m still processing this incredible honor. Our goal was to counter the falsehoods surrounding American elections and inspire local officials to defend voting rights.”
Importantly, Makhija emphasized that the fight against misinformation is ongoing. “We chose to respond with truth and storytelling,” he wrote, highlighting the film’s mission to empower local communities through accurate information.
The film features Makhija’s narration layered over beautiful watercolor illustrations by Molly Crabapple and mesmerizing time-lapse animation by Jim Batt and Max Boekbinder of Sharp As Knives. Together, the team transformed a technical topic like election administration into a visually compelling narrative.
“This award belongs to so many—the Montgomery County team, our 2,900 election workers across 430 precincts, and all who believe in the real work of democracy,” Makhija added.
Now that the film has earned national recognition, Makhija hopes more Americans will feel empowered to engage locally and protect the democratic process. His Emmy win not only recognizes outstanding storytelling, but also reaffirms the power of truth in the face of widespread misinformation.
