Washington:
With just four days to go until Election Day, former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania have raised concerns that he could try to overturn the vote not only in Pennsylvania but in other crucial battleground states.
Trump's rhetoric has sparked fears of violence and efforts to disrupt the electoral process, similar to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Trump's claims have raised concerns that he is preparing to blame a possible loss in Pennsylvania on voter fraud. His social media post on Thursday said, “We caught them in a BIG way in Pennsylvania,” and demanded criminal charges. A senior Harris campaign official countered that Trump's claims are an attempt to “sow doubt in our elections and institutions if he fears he can't win.”
Kyle Miller, a policy strategist from Pennsylvania, warns that Trump's actions are “sowing the seeds of efforts to overturn an election outcome that involves cuts against Donald Trump.” Miller believes Trump and his allies have learned from their experiences in 2020, realizing they need to spread these ideas early.
Trump recently further amplified his baseless accusations by claiming that investigations into suspect voter registration forms are evidence of voter fraud. However, state officials and democracy advocates argue that these incidents demonstrate that the system is working as intended.
A judge extended the deadline for mail-in voting in Bucks County after Trump's campaign was sued, and investigations into possible fraudulent registrations in Lancaster and York counties found no evidence of illegal voting.
The American electoral system, which has its roots in the 1789 Constitution, offers Trump and his supporters opportunities to challenge or delay the election results. In 2020, Trump's team filed 60 fraud lawsuits, all without success. However, this experience has prepared attorneys on both sides for another potential dispute.
Should Trump's minions succeed in overturning or delaying unfavorable state outcomes through the courts or through legislative obstruction, they could potentially prevent a duly elected Harris from coming to power and swinging the outcome in Trump's favor can influence. Some states have warned local officials not to intervene illegally or refuse to certify the results. Ultimately, the nine-member U.S. Supreme Court, with six conservative justices, three of whom were appointed by Trump, would be the final arbiter in such a case.
