Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump held a rally in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 2024, while US Vice-President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigned in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on October 26, 2024. – AFP

For two decades, Cindy Elgan has been trusted by her neighbors in Nevada to manage local elections. However, these same neighbors now believe she is part of a conspiracy to deny Donald Trump the presidency. Despite Trump receiving 82% of the votes in Esmeralda County in 2020—a county with around 700 residents, making it one of the least populated in the US—some residents are questioning the election's integrity.

Mary Jane Zakas, a retired schoolteacher, supports the effort to recall Elgan as county clerk, stating, "I do not trust the results from the 2020 election." Zakas, echoing a common conservative theory, blames the use of voting machines instead of paper ballots. She references Mike Lindell, known for his claims about election fraud and his pillow business, saying, "There's mathematical formulas that can alter your vote. There's things that can flip it."

Elgan, who knows nearly all of the 600 registered voters in Esmeralda, a desert area once frequented by gold miners including Mark Twain, recalls a time when the community was content with election processes. However, Trump's refusal to accept his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 has soured relations.

Polls indicate that over a third of Americans doubt the electoral system's integrity. Claire Woodall of Issue One research institute notes a long-standing distrust, exacerbated by Trump's 2020 refusal to concede. This skepticism has led to threats and harassment, forcing many election officials to resign. In states like Arizona and Nevada, where presidential elections are often close, the turnover among local election officials has been particularly high.

Amy Burgans, an election official in Douglas County, Nevada, illustrates the issue, stating, "I have only been in this position for four years, and yet I am one of the most senior clerks in the state." Burgans, a Republican, finds it frustrating that misinformation primarily comes from her own party, driving out honest officials.

The growing tension has led to unprecedented security measures, including bulletproof vests and surveillance cameras. In Los Angeles, election offices have partnered with law enforcement to inspect mail-in ballots. Burgans and her team now carry Narcan, an opioid antidote, in case they receive a contaminated ballot.

Despite efforts to reassure the public, some remain unconvinced by the facts, clinging to misinformation.

Source link:   https://www.khaleejtimes.com