Vikrant Shekhawat : Nov 02, 2024, 01:00 AM
US Election 2024: Allegations of voter fraud and legal actions in Pennsylvania have once again raised serious concerns over the fairness of the 2024 US presidential election. Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has recently made several serious allegations about the electoral process there. Democratic strategists believe that the purpose of false claims and allegations of voter fraud by Trump is to influence the election result.Trump and Kamala Harris in tough competitionAccording to opinion polls conducted just four days before the presidential election, Trump is in a tough competition with current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Given the division in seven important states, including Pennsylvania, the election results can lean either way, making this 2024 election highly sensitive.Memories of 2020: When allegations of fraud became the cause of controversyAfter losing the 2020 US presidential election, Trump had alleged massive voter fraud. He claimed that Democratic President Joe Biden's victory was the result of widespread rigging. These allegations led to the violence at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters attacked Congress with the aim of stopping the counting of electoral votes. Kyle Miller, a Pennsylvania policy strategist, says that "this is a re-seeding of efforts to influence the election result."Voter fraud issues resurface in PennsylvaniaOn October 31, Trump once again alleged voter fraud. He said that investigations into suspicious voter registration forms were proof of his allegation. When long lines were seen to receive mail-in ballots this week, some of his supporters called it an attempt at voter suppression. However, state officials and pro-democracy groups are insisting that these incidents prove the transparency of the electoral system, not voter suppression.Lawsuit filed by Trump campaign and judicial interventionA lawsuit filed by Trump's campaign claiming voter fraud in Pennsylvania was followed by an extension of the mail-in ballot deadline by three days in Bucks County, north of Philadelphia. Trump's campaign alleges that some voters were removed before the deadline. Local election officials then launched an investigation into potentially suspicious registrations in Lancaster and York counties. However, there is no evidence that these registrations have influenced illegal voting.Questions on the fairness of the voter systemTrump's allegations and legal actions ahead of the 2024 election are raising questions about the fairness of the US voter system. Experts believe that if such allegations and lawsuits continue, it could be a worrying sign for future elections as well. Maintaining faith in the electoral process is essential for democracy, and this will not be possible unless all parties accept the election results without any distrust.ConclusionAllegations of voter fraud raised in Pennsylvania and the legal battles waged for them are making the election process challenging. The purpose of these allegations made by Trump is now raising deep questions about the stability of democracy. In such a situation, the country's leaders and administration will have to take special care to maintain the fairness and transparency of the American election system.