With just four days left until Election Day, former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud in Pennsylvania have raised concerns that he may attempt to overturn the vote not only in Pennsylvania but in other key battleground states as well.
Trump’s rhetoric has sparked fears of violence and efforts to disrupt the electoral process, similar to the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack.
Trump’s claims have raised concerns that he is preparing to blame voter fraud for a potential loss in Pennsylvania. “We caught them committing major fraud in Pennsylvania,” their social media post Thursday said, and called for criminal prosecution. A senior Harris campaign official countered that Trump’s claims are “an attempt to sow doubt in our elections and institutions when he fears he can’t win.”
Pennsylvania policy strategist Kyle Miller warned that Trump’s actions are “sowing the seeds for efforts to overturn the election results that are against Donald Trump.” Miller believes Trump and his allies learned from their 2020 experience, realizing they needed to spread these ideas early.
Trump recently stepped up his baseless allegations, claiming that investigating suspicious voter registration forms is evidence of voter fraud. However, state officials and democracy advocates argue that these incidents show that the system is working as intended.
A judge extended the mail-in ballot deadline in Bucks County after the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit, and an investigation into potentially fraudulent registrations in Lancaster and York counties has found no evidence of illegal voting.
The US electoral system, enshrined in the 1789 Constitution, provides Trump and his supporters with the opportunity to challenge or delay the election results. In 2020, Trump’s team attempted 60 court cases alleging fraud, all unsuccessfully. However, this experience has prepared lawyers on both sides for another potential dispute.
If Trump’s followers succeed in overturning or delaying unfavorable state results through courts or legislative blockage, they could potentially prevent the duly elected Harris from taking office and swing the outcome in Trump’s favor. . Some states have warned local officials not to interfere illegally or refuse to certify the results. Ultimately, the nine-member US Supreme Court, composed of six conservative justices, three of whom would be appointed by Trump, would be the final arbiter in such a case.
