In response, significant steps were taken to strengthen election security ahead of the 2020 presidential election. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security designated election infrastructure as critical infrastructure, allowing for increased federal support and coordination with state and local governments.
States implemented a variety of measures, including upgrading voting machines, creating backup paper ballots and strengthening cybersecurity measures. Despite these efforts, the issue once again became the subject of controversy when the 2020 presidential election began.
The election, tainted by rhetoric surrounding the results and riddled with allegations of fraud and manipulation, set a dangerous precedent for Trump when he took office. refused to make concessions I kept losing for weeks.
05:52
Trump supporters storm the Capitol, disrupting Congress' certification of Biden's victory
Trump supporters storm the Capitol, disrupting Congress' certification of Biden's victory
President Trump's claims that Democrats rigged the election through widespread voter fraud and fraud have culminated in a high degree of polarization and anxiety. riot at the capitol January 6, 2021.
Ahead of the 2020 election, incumbent Trump mail-in voting And that United States Postal ServiceHe continues to criticize mail-in voting in the run-up to this year's presidential election. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's retention is adding to the anxiety of Republican voters who believe the 2020 election was stolen.
However, people's suspicions about election fraud in the United States are not limited to mail-in voting. The Capitol riot was conspiracy theory electoral fraud polarized an already divided electorate and weakened the foundations of democratic governance.
Importantly, an analysis by The Atlantic of 193 people arrested in connection with the Capitol riot found that 89 percent had no apparent connection. Established far-right militia or other armed groups. This suggests that techniques of manipulation and provocation similar to those used in the last election could lead to large-scale action again in the next vote.
Democratic voters would be deeply disappointed if President Joe Biden loses his re-election bid, but they appear largely ready to accept such an outcome. There are many factors that could contribute to Biden's defeat, and voters appear to be motivated primarily by the lack of a more attractive alternative.
But allegations of election fraud by the Trump campaign could spark legal proceedings and widespread debate. similar to the aftermath 2016 voting results. However, this will not necessarily lead to widespread mobilization of Trump supporters.
Right now, it's important to distinguish between two distinct groups within the Republican electorate. On the other hand, there are some realistic Republican voters. On the other hand, fervent Trump supporters may see an election loss as evidence of deep state manipulation against their leader, especially if the rational voices of the Republican Party are ignored.
Trump supporters attend a party on the night of the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 15th. Photo: AP
In this sense, the latter group may be more open to the influence of radical right-wing groups. The connections these die-hard Trump fans have with other voters are President Trump's statement Regarding the security of the upcoming November election, if allegations of fraud in Biden's favor surface, similar to what happened after the 2020 election, it could create an environment ripe for another tense protest movement. .
However, the biggest threat to the upcoming presidential election may come from a cyberattack on voting systems that may be organized by a foreign country or entity. A cyber attack from Russia could be used to gain an advantage for President Trump. geopolitical dynamics.
Given the stances of both presidential candidates toward China, there is a possibility that a cyber attack from China could disrupt election infrastructure and vote counting mechanisms.Chinese hacker groups are already Nickname: APT31 (Advanced Persistent Threat 31) has not only been accused of targeting critics of the Chinese government; Not only America but also Britain and Finland.
China faces dilemma as data breach exposes risk of hiring hackers
The danger is that unknown data manipulation or attacks on voting machines could occur in the United States and political parties could start blaming each other. Given the increasing polarization of American society, this political turmoil could lead to large-scale protests.
The U.S. election system is decentralized and each state has different security protocols and technology infrastructure, creating unique challenges. Despite being deemed safe from hacking and manipulation by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), dominion voting system They are still considered unsafe by some groups, and allegations that these systems were manipulated during the election could have serious consequences.
03:37
Biden attacks presidential challenger Trump during high-stakes State of the Union address
Biden attacks presidential challenger Trump during high-stakes State of the Union address
Allegations of fraud surrounding the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections have highlighted the fragility of American democracy. It is important to overcome these challenges and restore trust in the electoral process.
This requires the United States to strengthen election security, strengthen regional cybersecurity protocols, foster cooperation among states, combat disinformation, and promote transparency and accountability throughout the election process. It is.
Above all, it is imperative that political leaders, the media, the public, and figures like Trump commit to upholding America's democratic values and respecting the integrity of free and fair elections.
Chadash Yuksel is an Associate Researcher at the TRT World Research Center.
