’Trump may try to change the results during the vote count’

Election experts have expressed deep concern about the period after the close of voting in the upcoming US midterm elections. They fear that Donald Trump's allies may try to use this interim opportunity to count the votes to question or change the results.

In many US states, it can take days or weeks for final results to be released. Former government officials say this delay in releasing results is the most risky, as it allows Trump loyalists to sow doubt in the minds of the public by making false allegations. 

The Trump administration previously tried to impose restrictions on mail-in voting, but the Supreme Court blocked it. As a result, the legal avenues have narrowed, and there is now a fear of disinformation spreading and chaos surrounding this "counting window" or waiting period. 

While law enforcement and intelligence agencies usually maintain a silence before elections, this time there is an exception. The Department of Homeland Security is taking various controversial steps in the name of verifying voter lists. In addition, despite repeated baseless allegations of foreign interference or fraud by the administration, intelligence experts have made it clear that no country has ever directly interfered with the technical process of vote counting in the past. 

Experts say that despite the Trump administration's rhetoric about cybersecurity, it has slashed the budget and staffing for election security at CISA. Nevertheless, state election officials are continuing to educate voters in advance to avoid any artificial controversy and chaos. 

Source: The Guardian.