WASHINGTON – A pro-democracy organization warned Monday that disinformation and violent rhetoric could make the weeks following Election Day particularly tense, reeling the country from the upheaval that occurred four years ago during the last presidential transition.
The comments from three members of the Project to Defend Democracy came just days before voting closes on November 5, although with several races very close, the country may not know for several days who won the presidential election and who took control of Congress.
That could leave significant room for speculation as state election workers count mail-in ballots and potentially conduct a full recount, as they did four years ago.
“I think the biggest weakness will continue to be the misinformation and disinformation that will continue after the election,” said Olivia Troye, who previously worked for Vice President Mike Pence as special adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism.
Troye expressed concerns that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump could make false claims of voter fraud and encourage violence similar to what occurred on January 6, 2021, if he loses the Electoral College again.
Troye referred to election bulletin from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security warned that “candidates, elected officials, election workers, media representatives, judges involved in these matters” could become targets of post-election violence.
“We are also concerned about apparent attacks and violence on polling places or drop boxes,” Troye said, referring to the burning of ballots inside drop boxes in Oregon AND Washington states on Monday morning.
Michael Podhorzer, president of the Defend Democracy Project, said during a virtual briefing for reporters that one of the reasons many government officials balked at requests to “find votes” for Trump in the days following the 2020 election was that , that President Joe Biden had “two states to lose.”
“And that created a prisoner’s dilemma for any Republican election official who might have done wrong,” Podhorzer said. “So if you call (Georgia Secretary of State) Brad Raffensperger, he will understand that even if he can find the votes that Trump wanted, unless the two Democratic secretaries of state overturn their results, Donald Trump will not return to the White House.
“And that meant there was not a single actor, as there was in 2000 in Florida, who could actually change the election results.”
This time could be different if Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris wins by a narrow margin, potentially only one state’s Electoral College votes, he said.
Acceptance of results
The Associated Press-NORC Public Affairs Research Center released the report questionnaire Monday shows 86% of registered voters think whoever loses the presidential election should accept the results, though just 33% expect Trump to concede if he fails to secure the votes needed to win the Electoral College.
About 77% of respondents expected Harris to accept the results if she lost the presidential race.
Concern about post-election violence was quite high among registered voters surveyed, with 76% saying they were very or somewhat concerned about violent attempts to overturn the election results.
Eighty-two percent said they were at least somewhat concerned about “increased political violence directed against politicians or election officials.”
Voters are also concerned about foreign interference in elections, with 78% of registered voters surveyed saying they were very or somewhat concerned about “the influence on what Americans think about political candidates.”
Issue One National Council on Election Integrity Co-Chairs – Former U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., Donna Edwards, D-Md., Tim Roemer, D-Ind. and Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. — issued a written statement in a speech on Monday counterfeit film produced by Russian actors about ballots in Pennsylvania. The statement also criticized a Republican congressman from Maryland who he said North Carolina should just give its Electoral College votes to Trump.
“Foreign adversaries seek to influence U.S. elections by sowing division and spreading misinformation to undermine confidence in our system of local government,” the co-chairs wrote. “Additionally, people who want to win at all costs continue to spread false claims about election integrity, which could create chaos, delay results, and undermine the outcome of our fair electoral process.”
The four penned suggestions by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, chairman of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, that North Carolina simply award Trump’s 15 Electoral College votes “before the votes are counted is dangerous and contrary to the rule of law.”
“By rejecting the so-called independent state legislature theory in Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court affirmed that state legislatures do not have the authority to substitute a slate of electors for the will of the people,” they wrote.
Issue One describes itself as a “nonpartisan” organization that works to “unite Republicans, Democrats and independents in a movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.”
GOP criticizes Puerto Rican slurs at Trump rally
Democrats and Republicans united somewhat on Monday to express their anger comments the comedian about Puerto Rico during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
Tony Hinchcliffe, who spoke hours before Trump’s remarks, called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now.”
Hinchcliffe later stated that Latinos “love making babies” and made additional lewd remarks.
Congressional Latino Caucus Chairwoman Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Calif., issued a statement on Monday calling the comments shameful and threatening.
“This type of language emboldens prejudice, encourages violence and undermines the values of unity and respect on which our country is built,” Barragán wrote. “It is very disturbing to see Republican leaders celebrating this rhetoric instead of promoting unity and truth.”
Vice President Harris told reporters traveling with her that the comedian’s comments were part of the reason voters are “exhausted” and “ready to turn the page” on Trump.
“This is absolutely something that is designed to fuel and fuel attempts to divide our country,” Harris said.
Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott wrote on social media that the comedian’s comments about Puerto Rico “are not funny and are not true.”
“Puerto Ricans are amazing people and amazing Americans! I have been to the island many times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit!” Scott wrote. “I will always do everything in my power to help every Puerto Rican in Florida and on the island.”
Florida Republican Carlos A. Giménez wrote on social media that the comedian’s comments were “totally classless and in poor taste.”
“Puerto Rico is the crown jewel of the Caribbean and home to some of the most patriotic Americans I know,” Giménez wrote. “@TonyHinchcliffe is clearly not funny and definitely does not reflect my values or the values of the Republican Party.”
Puerto Rico’s representative in the House of Representatives, Republican Jenniffer González-Colón, called the comedian’s remarks “despicable, misguided and disgusting.”
“What he said is not funny; just as his comments were rejected by the audience, they should be rejected by everyone!” – wrote González-Colón. “There can be no place for such vile and racist expressions. They do not represent GOP values.”
Ariana Figueroa contributed to this report.
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