Intimidation in Democratic leaning areas, fake news about illegal immigrants stealing the vote, election officials harassed, early voting ballot boxes set on fire – America’s election day looks set for violence
Columnist based in Ohio
Nov 5 may be the next ‘Jan 6’ if Trump supporters carry out their plans to impede voting in Democratic strongholds, especially in battleground states, on election day. On that infamous day in 2021 a violent mob stormed the US Capitol to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes that would certify Biden’s presidential win over Trump. The persistence of Trump’s Big Lie about the last election – and disinformation about voter fraud – has this time led many of his supporters to disturb early voting and plan to sow disorder on election day itself.
Trump’s baseless allegations that the 2020 election was somehow “rigged” against him have fuelled conspiracy narratives such as the 2022 film 2000 Mules. It argued, without any reasonable evidence, that Democrat-supported couriers (that is to say, ‘mules’ – like ‘drug mules’) collected and distributed illegal ballots in swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Nov 5 may be the next ‘Jan 6’ if Trump supporters carry out their plans to impede voting in Democratic strongholds, especially in battleground states, on election day. On that infamous day in 2021 a violent mob stormed the US Capitol to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes that would certify Biden’s presidential win over Trump. The persistence of Trump’s Big Lie about the last election – and disinformation about voter fraud – has this time led many of his supporters to disturb early voting and plan to sow disorder on election day itself.
Trump’s baseless allegations that the 2020 election was somehow “rigged” against him have fuelled conspiracy narratives such as the 2022 film 2000 Mules. It argued, without any reasonable evidence, that Democrat-supported couriers (that is to say, ‘mules’ – like ‘drug mules’) collected and distributed illegal ballots in swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.