As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, concerns are mounting over former President Donald Trump’s false claims of voter fraud, particularly in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. Trump, who is running against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, has escalated baseless accusations of election fraud reminiscent of his efforts after the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump’s allegations include claims about fraudulent voter registrations and issues with mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, where he narrowly lost in 2020. His rhetoric has raised fears that, if he fares poorly in this election, he could again attempt to overturn the results, as he tried to do in the previous election. Trump’s accusations follow investigations into suspicious voter registration forms in the state, though there is no evidence that these incidents have led to illegal votes.
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Harris’ campaign is preparing for the possibility that Trump might prematurely claim victory or try to sow doubt about the results before all votes are counted, much like he did in 2020. Harris has emphasized the importance of maintaining calm and patience during the vote count and is ready to counter any misinformation that may arise.
In addition to voter fraud allegations, Trump and his supporters have voiced concerns about noncitizens voting, though such instances are rare. Recently, U.S. intelligence agencies revealed that Russia had created a video falsely showing people from Haiti voting multiple times in Georgia as part of its efforts to undermine confidence in the election.
Election officials in Pennsylvania and other battleground states are working to combat misinformation. In one instance, a viral video falsely portrayed a routine mail delivery as suspicious ballot activity, illustrating how quickly misinformation can spread online.
As Election Day nears, Trump continues to rally his base with claims of a “big victory,” while Harris has focused on solidifying support in key battlegrounds. Trump’s rhetoric has many worried that he is setting the stage to once again challenge the results if he loses, particularly in Pennsylvania, the largest and most critical swing state. Both campaigns are bracing for potential legal battles in the days following the election, drawing lessons from the contentious 2020 race.
