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An hoax suggesting voters can cast their ballots online is sweeping the US in the run-up to the presidential elections.

Hillary Clinton supporters are being urged to cast votes online in a hoax thought to have emerged from a pro-Donald Trump message board.

Online voting via email is available to a small number of Americans, mostly military personnel based overseas.

Absentee ballots are accepted by post or in person, most voters cast ballots at polling stations on election day.

The hoaxer told voters they can "Simply post 'Hillary' with the hashtag #PresidentialElection on your Facebook or Twitter account between 7:00am and 9:00pm on November 8th!"

A local Republican Party politician, Murrysville City Councilman Joshua Lorenz, received criticism recently after he posted it on Facebook.

He wrote: "More proof that the election process is rigged. Only Hillary supporters can vote from their smartphones or in the comfort of their own homes."

It came after weeks of Donald Trump warning the upcoming election would be rigged.

Lorenz later deleted the post, claiming it was a joke. However Pennsylvania officials have still felt the need to warn voters via Twitter about the hoax and other similar online memes.