As the US presidential election approaches, former President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions of widespread voter fraud in Pennsylvania are reigniting fears of another contested election.
Polls indicate a tight race between former Republican Trump and Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, with both candidates intensifying their campaigns in battleground states.
Trump continues to propagate the narrative that his loss in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden was due to widespread fraud, a claim he is now extending to the current election.
On Thursday, he intensified his accusations, alleging that investigations into voter registration irregularities in Pennsylvania serve as evidence of fraud.
Some of his supporters have also pointed to long lines at polling stations as a sign of voter suppression.
In response, Harris and the Democratic Party are bracing for potential premature victory claims from Trump, similar to those made in 2020.
They are preparing a robust media strategy to advocate for patience and calm during the vote-counting process.
Harris emphasised their readiness to counter any attempts to manipulate public perception if Trump tries to sway the narrative.
“This is sowing the seeds for attempts to overturn an election,” noted Kyle Miller, a strategist with the advocacy group Protect Democracy. He highlighted the need for vigilance against misinformation that could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
Recent intelligence reports also revealed that Russia is circulating false videos online, purporting to show widespread voter fraud involving noncitizens, further complicating the election landscape.
Georgia’s election officials confirmed that one such video likely originated from a Russian troll farm.
Despite the tumult, Pennsylvania election officials maintain that the state’s voting system is functioning as intended.
A judge recently extended the mail-in ballot deadline after Trump’s campaign filed a lawsuit over alleged voter suppression, and local investigations into voter registrations have yet to uncover evidence of illegal voting.
With over 70 million Americans having already cast their ballots, both candidates are focusing on critical swing states like Pennsylvania, which holds 19 Electoral College votes.
Trump continues to express confidence in a victory, stating he can only foresee losing in a “corrupt election.”
As the election nears, with over 1.6 million voters already casting their ballots in Pennsylvania, Harris and the Democratic Party are preparing for any eventuality, including the possibility of Trump prematurely declaring victory.
They plan to flood social media and news channels with calls for patience during the vote-counting process.
“This is sowing the seeds for attempts to overturn an election,” noted Kyle Miller, a strategist with the advocacy group Protect Democracy.
He highlighted the need for vigilance against misinformation that could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
Previously, A Pennsylvania judge on Friday directed the Erie County Board of Elections to provide ballots for approximately 17,000 voters who had not received their requested mail-in ballots in advance of the November 5 election.
Earlier in the week, the state’s Democratic Party filed a lawsuit against the county board, contesting its failure to distribute between 10,000 and 20,000 requested mail-in ballots.
The lawsuit argued that this failure caused “substantial delays and hardships in casting ballots” and may have infringed upon the voting rights of numerous electors.
Both campaigns are acutely aware of the stakes, as Pennsylvania is seen as pivotal in determining the election outcome.
As Election Day approaches, the potential for disputes over the results looms large, prompting Democrats to prepare for a rapid response if Trump declares victory before all votes are counted.
