It is us, the people watching, who will be the bulwark against what history could otherwise call a coup.
What to watch after Tuesday.
The Justice Department has already tried to set aside California ballots. It has sought to block Alaska’s Senate certification if the Republican loses.
Watch for attempts to interfere with counting, certification, and seating the winners after Election Day is over. The stakes are high for this administration, as a change in power could well bring investigations and more.
All of this can happen from now until January.
On election night, watch for unsupported claims of fraud before final results are in. Early voting, mail-in and Election Day ballots are often counted at different times.
Watch for isolated local mistakes being presented as evidence of a nationwide conspiracy that needs Justice Department investigation.
Watch for demands that election workers stop counting, backed by threats from political supporters or federal prosecution.
Watch for pressure on state officials to withhold certification based on these claims.
As January 3 approaches, when the new Congress is seated, watch for efforts to use unfounded claims of fraud to keep winners from taking their seats.
Describing this ahead of time can help us recognize an attempt to turn an election loss into continued one-party rule.
It is us, the people watching, who will be the bulwark against what history could otherwise call a coup.
Sources
- AP: Judge rejects federal request to segregate California ballots
- CBS News: Alaska Senate certification lawsuit
- Brennan Center: Anticipating Election Misinformation in the 2026 Midterms
- U.S. Election Assistance Commission: Why election results change after election night
- ABC News: Election workers describe toll of DOJ threats
- Chron: Texas Republicans seek to block certification pending statewide hand count
- J. Michael Luttig: The Final Battle for America’s Democracy
- Lawfare: Can the Midterms Be ‘Stolen’ on January 3?
