Why is Trump claiming election fraud?

Only some early votes have been solid within the 2024 presidential election, however Donald Trump — as in previous elections — is making claims that the method is rigged in opposition to him.

Trump is “escalating calls” to analyze election officers he says are “corrupt,” mentioned The New York Instances. “WHEN I WIN, these folks that CHEATED might be prosecuted,” he mentioned in a social media publish. However “election fraud is uncommon,” the Instances famous. Regardless of this, Trump’s claims have “rattled” officers who fear they could possibly be put within the authorized cross-hairs for “conducting a good election.”

There’s a sample at work right here. In February 2016, Politico mentioned, Trump misplaced the Iowa caucuses to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — and instantly charged fraud. “Ted Cruz did not win Iowa, he illegally stole it,” Trump wrote on social media. Nothing got here of the allegations. Trump beat Hillary Clinton within the Electoral School that fall — profitable the White Home — however misplaced the favored vote: He then made “unfounded” claims that “hundreds of thousands of individuals” voted illegally within the election, mentioned NPR. Trump’s fraud claims after shedding the 2020 election helped spark the Jan. 6 rebellion, however his allegations have been repudiated by a “number of judges, state election officers and an arm of his personal administration’s Homeland Safety Division,” mentioned The Related Press.

‘Republican Social gathering Warfare Rooms’ prepared for 2024

Trump is placing his cash the place his mouth is. The previous president in April introduced an effort to “fight voter fraud” by deploying “100,000 attorneys and volunteers” in swing states, Reuters mentioned. GOP officers will workers “Republican Social gathering Warfare Rooms” and launch “Election Integrity Hotline” to reply calls from voters about attainable irregularities. Related efforts had been made by Republicans through the 2022 midterm elections, however the newest program is a “important step up by way of its scope and ambition.”

The previous president can also be pushing Republicans in Congress to get on board. He has urged GOP members of the Home “pursue a authorities shutdown” except they will move a “hard-line voting invoice” as a part of the funding decision to maintain the federal government open, mentioned CNBC. The invoice, known as the SAVE Act, would require voters to “present proof of citizenship on the poll field” — a requirement based on Trump’s unproven social media claims that “DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO ‘STUFF’ VOTER REGISTRATIONS WITH ILLEGAL ALIENS.” Democrats say the proposal is lifeless on arrival.

Extra lawsuits on the best way

The authorized battle has already begun. Republicans have “filed greater than 100 lawsuits” difficult election procedures forward of the 2024 election, mentioned Axios. Extra lawsuits are on the best way. “Pre-election litigation has been fairly heavy,” mentioned Benjamin Ginsberg, a GOP lawyer. A Republican Nationwide Committee spokesperson mentioned the get together will proceed efforts to verify the election is “truthful, clear, authorized and correct.”

There could possibly be penalties. Trump’s claims are “placing Republican turnout in danger,” mentioned The Wall Avenue Journal. There’s a pressure between telling supporters that the method is “rigged” whereas additionally encouraging them to “take part in it anyway.” That has some GOP officers nervous. “Once you nonetheless need voters to end up however you are telling them it is rigged,” mentioned David Becker of the Middle for Election Innovation and Analysis, “it is no shock that a few of them are on the fence about that.”