Battleground states deal with conspiracy theories and violence

(CLO) With just days left until the US presidential election, officials in key battleground states are preparing to deal with misinformation, conspiracy theories, threats and the possibility of violence.

In Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta, three locations that were targeted by former President Donald Trump with allegations of election fraud, officials have stepped up security to prevent chaos similar to 2020.

Election offices in Philadelphia are now surrounded by barbed wire. In Detroit and Atlanta, some election offices are also protected by bulletproof glass.

US voters go to the polls early in Michigan on October 28, 2024. Photo: Reuters

In Wisconsin, election workers are trained in de-escalation techniques and polling places have been rearranged to allow for emergency exits in case of threats from protesters.

In Arizona, a hotbed of Republican claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, the State Department is working with local officials to counter misinformation, including tackling fake images.

Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are in a tight race next Tuesday, according to polls. Officials say they cannot predict or control what Trump and his allies might say as the vote count continues.

Election officials are also concerned about the possibility of a close race, where the final outcome hinges on disputes over a small number of disputed votes. Republicans have filed multiple lawsuits against election officials over various aspects of the voting process, raising concerns among Democrats.

In Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta — key Democratic voting centers in key battleground states — tensions have been particularly high as Trump has accused the cities of allowing voter fraud in 2020 and has repeated this throughout the current campaign.

In Detroit, the largest African-American city, local police and federal officials braced for possible unrest.

Philadelphia has also changed its vote-counting process, moving the election operation to a secured vault away from the city center. Philadelphia officials hope the quicker release of results will reduce the spread of misinformation in the time between polls closing and news outlets declaring a winner.

Meanwhile, election officials in other battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin and North Carolina are also preparing. States have adopted new laws and procedures to speed up the vote counting process and increase voter confidence in the results.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-my-2024-cac-bang-chien-truong-doi-pho-voi-thuyet-am-muu-va-bao-luc-post319257.html