Fears of mass unrest and violence as Donald Trump makes rigged election claims in bitter election fight

Donald Trump’s intensifying tirades claiming his election battle against Kamala Harris is “rigged” has stoked fears of widespread political violence were he to lose after Tuesday’s vote.

As America heads to the polls, the atmosphere here has become increasingly tense as the former president and his allies revert to their deadly 2020 playbook that led to the January 6 riot. At rally after rally, Trump has urged his supporters to deliver a victory “too big to rig,” telling them the only way he can lose is if Democrats cheat.

He has refused to say, repeatedly, whether he will accept the results regardless of the outcome. And he’s claimed cheating is already under way, citing debunked claims or outrageous theories with no basis in reality. “The only thing that can stop us is the cheating. It’s the only thing that can stop us,” he said at an event in Arizona on Thursday night.

Throughout his final rallies, Trump has increased his “stolen election” claims, with pollsters and election officials all sounding alarms, wary of the potential fallout of his accusations on an already polarised electorate. Joanna Lydgate, chief executive of the United Democracy Centre, said: “It’s been four years of spreading lies about elections, recruiting volunteers to challenge the system, and filing litigation.

“What we’re seeing today is all of that coming to fruition.” The Centre has been working with officials to shore up election security, yet Lydgate warns that Trump’s ongoing false claims have significantly strained the system, potentially undermining public confidence in the results.

Final polling shows Harris has renewed strength in critical states like North Carolina and Georgia. At the same time, Trump has eaten into her lead in Pennsylvania while holding an advantage in Arizona.

But with America days away from what many call its most consequential election in living history, polls reveal a race too close to call. The candidates remain locked in tight contests across battleground states in the Sun Belt and Rust Belt, including Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

All predictions fall within the margin of error, and neither candidate has a definitive lead in any of the must-win states. Though the polling data reveals a deeply divided landscape, the numbers suggest Harris may hold a slight advantage as late-deciding voters appear to be swinging in the Democrat’s favor.

In response, Trump has doubled down on a campaign strategy designed to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the vote, priming his supporters for what he calls “a rigged election.”

This time, however, his efforts are supported by outside groups that have spent years pushing the notion of a stolen election. His MAGA supporters, built on the belief that the 2020 election was illegitimate, have worked for weeks to spread claims of fraud, preparing Trump’s base for the possibility of a contested result.

In recent days, the former president has referred to Democrats as “a bunch of cheats” and has joined allies in promoting distorted reports of mishaps and technical issues at polling stations.

Together, they’ve crafted a description of widespread fraud, casting doubt on the integrity of the electoral process. They have seized on polling and bookmakers’ odds to claim that Trump, as ally Elon Musk said, is headed for a “crushing victory.” Should Harris win, the former president and his team have set the stage for disbelief, if not outright outrage.

In a direct echo of four years ago, it has been claimed the property mogul will declare victory before all the votes are counted. Such a move was central to his attempt to remain in power after his defeat to Joe Biden and contributed to the deadly violence at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Now, fears are mounting that a similar strategy could lead to unrest, as Trump’s followers have been primed for years to doubt any outcome that doesn’t put him back in the White House. In recent weeks, he has made numerous unsubstantiated claims about the election, each designed to build mistrust among his supporters.

He’s falsely stated that voting by noncitizens is widespread, alleged that overseas and military ballots lack verification, and accused election officials of using early voting to commit fraud. He’s even claimed that “massive swaths of mail-in ballots” are illegitimate, even though he has encouraged his supporters to vote by post.

Voter Bill Robinson, 65, believes it’s inevitable that the 2024 election will end in violence, heightened by the two assassination attempts against the former president while on the campaign trail. The retired marketing professional from North Carolina attended Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last week.

“It’s a horrendous possibility because it looks like there’s no other option than some kind of extreme unrest,” he said. “I don’t think violence is ever justified but that’s never stopped it. Particularly in America, if somebody is stealing an election, they’re committing treason.

“We used to execute traitors. The last time we executed Democrat traitors was in 1953 with Ethel and Julius Rosenberg. Are you telling me nobody’s committed treason since then?”

MAGA fan Matt Anderson said of Harris: “There’s no way she can naturally win an election, naturally.” He added if she does win, he believes “there is fraud that needs to be investigated.” Both candidates have multiple pathways to the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the White House. With such a close race, even a small polling error could tip the outcome decisively in either direction.

However, signs are emerging that Harris might have an edge with undecided voters, who have leaned her way in recent analysis. Among those who recently decided on their vote, Harris leads with 55 percent to Trump’s 44 percent, leaving her potentially positioned to edge out Trump in critical battlegrounds. On Tuesday, as Americans cast their votes, only 11 percent remain undecided.

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More than 70 million Americans have already cast their ballots, with early data showing Harris leading among those who have voted early by an eight-point margin.

Trump, meanwhile, has a lead among those who plan to vote Tuesday, underscoring the intense divide within the electorate and the importance of turnout in deciding the outcome. With both sides eager to mobilize their base, the campaign’s final days have taken on an almost frenetic tone.

In sharp contrast to Trump’s strategy of casting doubt, Harris made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live in New York at the weekend. The sketch featured the current Vice President and her impersonator, Maya Rudolph, both dressed identically.

With a broad smile, Harris told Rudolph, “It’s nice to see you, Kamala,” before encouraging supporters to “Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala.” The unexpected cameo was a calculated attempt to resonate with young voters.

For Trump, his final campaign events have centred on casting the election as a battle for the future of America, rallying supporters with warnings of “radical socialism” under a Harris administration. His appearances have fired up his base, but it has also polarized the country, leaving many moderate voters uneasy about his return to the Oval Office.

Analysts have warned that the outcome may hinge on even the smallest shifts as undecided voters in crucial swing states make their final choices. In states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia, where margins remain razor-thin, late deciders could play a pivotal role.

Experts also caution that a minor polling error could swing the results, creating an atmosphere where both sides are bracing for either outcome. US political watcher Patrick Finn told the Mirror: “If Harris wins, she will face the immense task of uniting a fractured nation, where millions have been primed to believe that her victory was only possible through fraud.

“If Trump prevails, it will be seen as a vindication of his populist movement, likely deepening the existing divides in the country. Whatever the outcome, the stakes have seldom been higher. As the world watches on, many fear that Trump’s rhetoric could trigger chaos if he loses, with civil unrest again a real threat.”