us presidential election 2024: Will Trump challenge U.S election results if he loses? Things may be difficult this time

There are increasing indications that the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, would not accept the outcome if he is defeated in the 2024 election. He’s been outspoken about the Democrats’ decision to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris, referring to it as a “coup” and suggesting that the results are already predetermined. Though rare, Trump and his allies still insist that voting by non-citizens is commonplace. In addition, he said that he would only accept the election results if he thought that “everything’s honest,” implying that he was prepared to contest the results if he had second thoughts, as per the reports of MSN.

It’s possible that the winner of the Trump-Harris race won’t be clear by November 6, the day after the election. Issues may also arise during the weeks before Congress counts the Electoral College votes on January 6. Trump’s campaign co-manager hinted at a possible legal and political battle following the election, emphasizing that the outcome isn’t final until the inauguration. The close race increases uncertainty on Election Day and beyond, with states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin lacking laws to process mail-in ballots quickly, potentially leading to a scenario where Trump appears ahead on election night, only to see his lead diminish as more votes are counted.

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Improved electoral guardrails

Despite the tension, the country is better prepared to avoid a repeat of the 2020 election chaos. The absence of a pandemic is a relief, but new electoral safeguards also play a crucial role. Lawsuits alleging election irregularities have not gained traction, with a federal judge dismissing a challenge to Nevada’s mail voting law in July. Although more lawsuits are expected, they are unlikely to succeed, as state election rules remain stable this time around.

Efforts to delay vote counts

Trump supporters may attempt to delay vote counts to cast doubt on the election results. In Georgia, changes to state rules now allow county election boards to postpone certification of results if they choose to investigate alleged irregularities. Some local officials, influenced by Trump’s unfounded claims of election fraud in 2020, might try to delay the process, but state legislatures’ certification deadlines should override any administrative delays. Courts are also expected to intervene if necessary to ensure that state votes are counted.Also Read : ‘Borderlands’ arrives on digital platforms: When will it be available on streaming?

Electoral Count Reform

The 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act strengthens rules for submitting and counting Electoral College votes. It prevents the vice president from discarding votes and closes loopholes that allowed fake electors to claim Trump had won in 2020. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Moore v. Harper also limits state legislatures’ power to ignore state laws during federal elections, further reducing the likelihood of successful election meddling.

FAQs:

How prepared is the U.S. to handle a contested 2024 election?
The country is better prepared than in 2020, with new laws and electoral safeguards in place to prevent and address any challenges to the election results.

What impact does the 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act have?
The 2022 Electoral Count Reform Act strengthens rules around counting Electoral College votes, preventing attempts to discard legitimate votes or use fake electors to influence the outcome.