In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented changes to the voting process, and Donald Trump has repeatedly used the changes to allege fraud since his defeat. Will we see something similar in 2024 with the hurricane hitting the heart of a swing state?
Hurricanes Helen and Milton have already raised questions about voting access in Georgia and North Carolina, two states crucial to November's outcome, as well as the less contested state of Florida. The areas affected by Helen are primarily Republican-leaning. Trump wins in North Carolina, the hardest-hit state. From 26 counties to President Biden's 3 counties.
This week's North Carolina Board of Elections Approved emergency measures For affected counties, this includes changes to early voting dates, times and locations. Not so in Georgia. Among the 53 most affected counties in the Peach State, Mr. Trump received 57.3% of the vote, but officials have not yet announced any changes to voting procedures.
Does this mean Republicans are blaming the storm for their narrow loss? probably. Chairman Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) recently teased one potential debate.I'm saying“There were 40,000 absentee ballots mailed out from North Carolina, but only 1,000 were returned before the storm. So did some get lost? Those people… Where can I find an opportunity to do it again?”
But it's not just Republicans. If a narrow loss in North Carolina played a role in Harris' defeat, it's easy to see how Democrats would demand an investigation into last-minute vote changes and lost mail-in ballots.
In Asheville, a Democratic stronghold, the Democratic county mayor told reporters The storm ruined the party's chances. Already many Democratic Party and media They argue that Trump's misinformation and disinformation about the federal government's response paved the way for him to become president.
The media has drawn comparisons to Hurricane Sandy and other storm events during the election period, but the truth is that none of these adequately compare to the current situation. That's not because the storm itself is so special, but rather because this election is fully primed for historic discontent and suspicion regardless of the outcome.
If both sides believe the other is a threat to democracy, it is certain that half the country will have a hard time accepting the outcome. Enthusiastic supporters of both candidates, living in information bubbles surrounded by people who agree with them, view defeat as incompatible with reality.
A quick search of X, Reddit, or Instagram reveals countless examples of false confidence on both sides. That is, those who believe their candidate is winning by a landslide, those who dismiss countervailing polls as impossibly biased, and those who believe that the other candidate is underperforming everywhere they look. These are the people who find the signs. The sides are flapping.
When we look at elections in this way, it is natural for the shock of defeat to lead us to question the outcome and seek scapegoats to help explain the unpleasant outcome. He lied and deceived voters. ”
This was true not only for the 2020 novel coronavirus infection, but also for the Russian collusion allegations in 2016, which resulted in no results. Will we be blamed for these hurricanes in 2024? That will probably depend on the outcome. But even if it doesn't, something else could appear in its place.
No matter who wins or how the losing side reacts, we need Congressional leaders from both parties, especially from the losing side, to represent the majority of Americans who want the government to govern and the new president to succeed. With so many pressing challenges facing our country, we cannot afford to lose valuable time re-litigating an election that is over and over. We've tried it twice before, and the people have been devastated and hurt, and the government has been terribly counterproductive.
The closer we get to this election, and before the results are known, the more leaders on both sides and the people of the country are willing to accept the results, reject excuses and conspiracy theories, and commit to whatever leader the people choose to move America forward. You need to put in the effort.
Nancy Jacobson is CEO and Founder. no label.
